After driving through high water check engine light keeps turning on with codes

Tiny
NJCOWGIRL1
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 DODGE DAKOTA
  • 4.7L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 109,000 MILES
Hi, I have the vehicle listed above SLT Quad Cab. Runs excellent, never any check engine lights on. Recently we had a flash flood and I got caught in it. I drove through a pretty high puddle but couldn't really see, as it was pouring rain. My truck lost some power going through, like not accelerating but It did not stall, got through it and power returned with no issue, then another puddle comes up though smaller this time drive through without any power loss but a few seconds later the check engine light comes on. (No flashing just steady light). I get home and hook up my code reader and get 1 code P0174. Figuring the 02 sensor got wet I clear the code. Next day check engine light comes back on and I have four codes, didn't write them all down but if memory serves me it was P0174, 0159, 0173 and 0203. Cleared those codes and did a hard reset on PCM. Next day check engine light is on again with only two codes 0203 and and 0174. Cleared codes and opened hood to let everything dry out (first sunny day, had been raining all week). Checked oil and transmission fluid not milky. Next day check engine light came back on with P0174 and 0203. Cleared one more time then later same day check engine light comes back on with P0174 and 0159. So consistently I am getting P0174 thinking I either knocked loose the 02 wire connectors or shorted out a wire but all the codes intermittently and not consistently has me stumped. Any ideas?
Tuesday, July 9th, 2019 AT 8:35 AM

7 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Good morning,

This sounds like you have water in a few connections. All the connections are close to being under the car.

How high was the water level?

I would let it dry out for a few days and see what happens. I do not think anything is wrong at this point unless the PCM got wet during the flood. Then that would be my guess is the electronics got damaged from the water.

How does it run?

Roy
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Tuesday, July 9th, 2019 AT 9:02 AM
Tiny
NJCOWGIRL1
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Hi Roy,

Thanks for the reply. It is running great, albeit a little gas smell sometimes. No loss of power whatsoever it's a beast LOL, sorry but I love my truck. The water I would estimate to have been at least 10 inches, It was raining so hard I couldn't see very well and I did not "race" through the puddle was only going about 10 MPH. It did hit a lot of "road edge" puddles before we hit the flooded areas so I am sure it did get pretty wet. I will check the PCM connectors next but any other advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks again,
Cindy
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Wednesday, July 10th, 2019 AT 3:29 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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You are welcome.

Always glad to help.

Roy
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Wednesday, July 10th, 2019 AT 3:31 PM
Tiny
NJCOWGIRL1
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
One more quick question if you don't mind. If after a few more days of drying out (if it doesn't rain as it has been just about every night) if it is still throwing codes, would it be wise to have the PCM reprogrammed to factory default in order to start with a basically new PCM? Even though I am getting codes for the bank 2 O2 sensor P0159 and P0174 for the air/fuel mixture I don't think it is actually the o2 and there is no MAF sensor on this truck. Oh BTW it is now only throwing those 2 codes.I did disconnect the PCM and it doesn't seem to be wet, however I am going to leave it disconnected and let it dry out if it is nice tomorrow. Thanks again you have been a big help.
Cindy
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Wednesday, July 10th, 2019 AT 6:24 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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You are welcome.

Keep me updated.

Always glad to help.

Roy
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Wednesday, July 10th, 2019 AT 9:04 PM
Tiny
NJCOWGIRL1
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Hi again,
So my truck has been drying out for 2 weeks, I disconnected the PCM on a hot day to dry out in case it got wet. I just read codes this morning and I now have codes p0153, p0174, p0205, p0204 and p0203. It is running ok but I am smelling gas. Any suggestions? Tune Up? Replace Fuel Filter, 02 sensors? PCM? I just don't know where to start.
Thanks,
Cindy
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Monday, July 22nd, 2019 AT 5:53 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Cindy

It looks like the O2 sensor heater may have failed from the rain. I attached posible issues for the 153.

The 203,204 and 205 are for fuel injector circuit issue. That is related to the rain as well. Try disconnecting them and use di electric grease in the connectors. Do it to all of them.

The 174 is a lean condition on bank 2. That is related to the other codes. Once they go away, that will go inactive.

No need to flash PCM> Nothing happened to factory settings. They are still there and working.

Roy

SYMPTOM
P0203 - INJECTOR # 3 CONTROL CIRCUIT

WHEN MONITORED
With battery voltage greater than 10.4 volts, the auto shutdown relay energized, injector pulse width less than 10 ms, and engine speed less than 3000 rpm.

SET CONDITION
This trouble code takes 0.64 to 10.0 seconds to set when no inductive kick is sensed 0.18 ms after injector turns OFF, and with no other injectors ON.

POSSIBLE CAUSES
- Open/high resistance in the ASD relay output circuit
- Fuel injector
- Wiring harness intermittent problem
- Fuel injector # 3 driver circuit open
- Fuel injector # 3 driver circuit shorted to ground
- Powertrain Control Module (injector driver)

SYMPTOM
P0153 - 2/1 O2 SENSOR SLOW RESPONSE

TEST NOTE
This symptom is diagnosed using the test P0133 - 1/1 O2 SENSOR SLOW RESPONSE.

WHEN MONITORED
With ECT greater than 147 °F, after reaching a vehicle speed of 10 mph, and the throttle remaining open (OFF idle) for 2 minutes, bring the vehicle to a stop and allow the engine to idle with the transmission in DRIVE.

SET CONDITION
The oxygen sensor signal voltage is switching from below 0.27 volts to above 0.62 volts and back fewer times than required.

POSSIBLE CAUSES
- Exhaust leak
- O2 sensor heater feed circuit open
- O2 sensor heater ground circuit open
- O2 sensor sensor ground circuit voltage drop
- O2 sensor signal circuit voltage drop
- Wiring harness intermittent problem
- O2 sensor
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Monday, July 22nd, 2019 AT 6:17 AM

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