2001 Ford Taurus My engine miss fires and has terrible gas

Tiny
P_LOCO
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 FORD TAURUS
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 173,422 MILES
My engine miss fires, has terrible gas mileage, does not go up hills. I had it code tested and it said that bank 1 and 2 are running rich and cylinders 1, 2 and 3 are miss firing. The engine icon light is blinking but it was just on constantly. I have just replaced the plugs, plug wires, both upper oxygen sensors, gas cap, also added a can of heat and fuel injector cleaner to a full tank of gas. It was running ok one day then my wife ran the car thru a gas station car wash drive thru. Then it really started miss firing and chugging when in idle and while driving. What can be the problem? Thanks guys for your time. Paul.
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Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 AT 4:06 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Engine misfiring can be caused by worn or fouled spark plugs, a weak spark (weak coil, bad spark plug wire), loss of compression, vacuum leaks, anything that causes an unusually lean fuel mixture (lean misfire), an EGR valve that is stuck open, dirty fuel injectors, low fuel pressure, or even bad fuel.
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Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 AT 4:58 PM
Tiny
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Thanks guys. It narrows it a little bit. But heres more. Its been running rough and miss firing for a while. I got it code tested but it only said that both banks 1 and 2 were running lean and cylinders 1 2 and 3 were miss firing. I replaced both upper oxygen sensors, Replaced the plugs and wires, replaced air filter, replaced fuel filter and pump, gas cap and put heat and fuel injector cleaner in it. It was running ok until my wife drove thru a car wash at a gas station then it really is running rough now. The engine icon light was on constantly on then it went to flashing then I replaced the plug wires and the engine icon light is off now.
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Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 AT 6:46 PM
Tiny
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Lean condition:

* Low fuel pressure due to a weak pump or leaky fuel pressure regulator. (Use a fuel pressure gauge to check fuel pressure at idle)

* Dirty fuel injectors. (Try cleaning the injectors)

* Vacuum leaks at the intake manifold, vacuum hose connections or throttle body. (Use a vacuum gauge to check for low intake vacuum)

* Leaky EGR valve. (Check operation of EGR valve)

* Leaky PCV Valve or hose. (Check valve and hose connections)

* Dirty or defective Mass Airflow Sensor (MAF). (Try cleaning the MAF sensor wires or filament with aerosol electronics cleaner. Do NOT use anything else to clean the sensor, and do not touch the sensor wires)
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Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 AT 7:25 PM
Tiny
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Well I went to the auto parts store to see what kind of ignition stuff they had for my car and the guy didnt know and could not tell me. Well research from this site helped me find out it had a ignition coil. I replaced that and my car does not miss fire anymore. But I did discover that I had a vacuum leak under the inlet tub for air. It is large where it fits to the air inlet tube then imediatly reduces dowm 50% and makes a 90 degree turn and fits on a plastic tube. The hose is cracked. I will replace tomorrow. Will that leak help my engine run even better? It runs really good now but still hesitates a little and reves up high before it shifts. Why does it rev up like that? Thanks guys! Later. Paul.
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Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 AT 11:49 PM
Tiny
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Check and test the throttle position sensor and mass airflow sensor
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Thursday, January 21st, 2010 AT 12:05 AM

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