I hate smelling like fuel. What next?

[scrmngchicken]

Hey all. New to the forum. Decided to join up after running into a dead end with my Expedition.

2000 Eddie Bauer Expedition 5.4L with just over 200K.

So last December it started to run terrible. No power, occasionally misfiring, and yeah no power. It was strange. There was one spot when giving it throttle where it would pick up power, and it had to stay there. Any more throttle and nothing, any less was no power too. Lean codes only. No other. Just felt like a massive vacuum leak.

I replaced the IAC, fuel filter and TPS. No change until it started warming up in the spring. Then it all went away.

Then one night things really went bad. Got stranded on the way to work (was on 3rd shift at the time). Managed to get it lit again and took it back home. Went to the shop the next morning and they found the Schrader valve on the fuel rail was leaking bad. This was in April.

Last week I was heading home from work and the same issue came up again. No power except for a small spot in the throttle range. The next morning it was worse. So I brought it back home and replaced the intake gaskets (shop said I had a leak) as well as any vacuum hoses that looked like they needed replacing. Got it all back together and it wouldn't start. Pulled the fuel pressure gauge and saw that it was getting no more than 10psi. So it gets picked up by a roll back and to the shop again. They replaced the pump. God 45psi but it wouldn't start. After another day, they managed to get it lit. But it runs terrible. Shop's trying to tell me it jumped timing. I call BS because I never touched anything near the timing chain.

So this afternoon, I decided to pull the injectors and clean them out. I built a tool that makes it really simple. Lubed the seals and put them back in. It runs better, but still is acting like its missing.

Oh, codes? I got a few. Bear in mind this was only after idling a few minutes. So any new codes is still a mystery.

P0113, P0174, P0102, P0136, P0156, P0171.

I think the one that references the MAF is when I ran it and forgot to plug the MAF back in.

I cleared the codes and am waiting to go take it for a drive.

Next week, I am going to replace the coil packs and injectors (they all sprayed fine except one when I cleaned them out) in hops of getting rid of that lean code issue, as well as new plugs. But if that doesn't work, a new manifold will likely be needed.

Now for my questions:

Can it jump timing at all? Never had a vehicle do this before.
What else should I be looking for?

 

[scrmngchicken]

Update.

My wife drove it. No change. Speeds above 50 are a pain.

 

[Bedrck47]

P0102 - Mass Air Flow (MAF) Circuit Low Input
The MAF sensor circuit is monitored by the PCM for low air flow (or voltage) input through the comprehensive component monitor (CCM). If during key ON engine running the air flow (or voltage) changes below a minimum calibrated limit, the test fails.
MAF sensor disconnected
MAF circuit open to PCM
VPWR open to MAF sensor
PWR GND open to MAF sensor
MAF RTN circuit open to PCM
MAF circuit shorted to GND
Intake air leak (near MAF sensor)
A closed (throttle indication throttle position [TP] sensor system)
Damaged MAF sensor
Damaged PCM
A MAF V PID (MAF PID) reading less than 0.23 volts (GO to Pinpoint Test DC for the equivalent grams/second chart) in continuous memory or key ON and engine running indicates a hard fault.

P0113 - Intake Air Temperature (IAT) Circuit High Input
Indicates the sensor signal is greater than Self-Test maximum. The IAT sensor maximum is 4.6 volts or -50°C (-46°F).
Open circuit in harness
Sensor signal short to power
Damaged sensor
Improper harness connection
Damaged PCM
Using signal simulation, disconnect sensor and simulate 1.0V on sensor signal circuit. Simulated 1.0V signal and scan PID voltage value should be similar. If voltage is similar check sensor, if voltage is not similar check related circuit and PCM.

P0136 - HO2S Sensor Circuit Malfunction (HO2S-12)
The downstream HO2S sensor(s) are continuously checked for maximum and minimum voltages. The test fails when the voltages fail to meet the calibrated limits.
Pinched, shorted, and corroded wiring and pins.
Crossed sensor wires.
Exhaust leaks.
Contaminated or damaged sensor.

P0156 - HO2S Sensor Circuit Malfunction (HO2S-22)
See DTC P0136

P0171 - System to Lean (Bank 1)
The Adaptive Fuel Strategy continuously monitors fuel delivery hardware. The test fails when the adaptive fuel tables reach a rich calibrated limit.
For lean and rich DTCs:

Fuel system
Excessive fuel pressure.
Leaking/contaminated fuel injectors.
Leaking fuel pressure regulator.
Low fuel pressure or running out of fuel.
Vapor recovery system.

Induction system:
Air leaks after the MAF.
Vacuum Leaks.
PCV system.
Improperly seated engine oil dipstick.

EGR system:
Leaking gasket.
Stuck EGR valve.
Leaking diaphragm or EVR.

Base Engine:
Oil overfill.
Cam timing.
Cylinder compression.
Exhaust leaks before or near the HO2Ss.

P0174 - System to Lean (Bank 2)
The Adaptive Fuel Strategy continuously monitors the fuel delivery hardware. The test fails when the adaptive fuel tables reach a rich calibrated limit.
See Possible Causes for DTC P0171.

http://www.expeditionforum.com/f42/about-egr-pcv-dpff-evap-iat-tps-maf-23583/#post191356

 

[scrmngchicken]

Thanks for the reply! That information is definitely something I'll remember down the road.

So my original thought was coils. I drove this thing to work today and anything above 2,500 RPM wasn't bad. Below, and it was misfiring terribly.

So I get home, and scan it again. This time I have misfires in #4, #5 and #7. Lean code only on the left bank and all the others are gone. So my plan is just to replace all of the coil packs. If three of eight are done and they are all the same age, I might as well. I'm also going to pull injector #4 and try and clean it up some more. And definitely some new plugs. They're not old. I'm just thinking they have been beaten up a bit.

 

[stamp11127]

Please explain your thinking of how coil packs or cops can cause a lean condition. A lean condition is an excessive air to fuel ratio. So how does the lack of ignition increase the air charge or reduce the fuel ratio?

 

[docraymund]

Check the cats borrow an infrared thermometer, put the truck on a lift and measure temp fore and aft. Cats may need replacing.

 

[stamp11127]

Scrmngchicken, there are two methods of troubleshooting a problem. The first is to take a guess at what it is and toss parts until you get lucky enough or completely rebuild the vehicle. Those "mechanics" we call parts tossers - very entertaining since they usually don't listen to what others tell them or understand what they are told and just keep tossing parts.

The second group gathers facts about a problem, tests for failures, verifies the part has failed, orders the replacement and then completes the repair.

What do the codes tell you?

http://www.obd-codes.com/p0113

http://www.obd-codes.com/p0174

http://www.obd-codes.com/p0102

http://www.obd-codes.com/p0136

The codes that are produced from voltages that are beyond the normal range need to be checked with a voltmeter or with a scan tool that will display the voltages the ecm sees from each sensor. The readings will tell if there is a break, short, or faulty sensor in the circuit.

 

[scrmngchicken]

Please explain your thinking of how coil packs or cops can cause a lean condition. A lean condition is an excessive air to fuel ratio. So how does the lack of ignition increase the air charge or reduce the fuel ratio?

Because it did.

I'll explain my "throwing parts at it" mentality as well as the above.

When it all started running terribly back in December, it had crazy symptoms and no codes. I replaced the IAC and TPS. Then the lean codes started coming in. I replaced the fuel filter because I still had one in my tool box from when I first bought the X.

Anyway, about that lean issue?

I pulled the injectors and cleaned them last week. Today I installed 8 new coil packs and plugs. Fired it up and it was idling perfectly. My wife was so thrilled she jumped in and wanted to take it for a test run. She just sent me a few texts right now. Runs perfect. No CEL. And the fuel mileage went from 9.7 to 14.7.

 

[tcwaltz]

I suspect that it had more to do with the fuel injectors than the cops. I mean depending upon age it could.

I just recently did a full engine replacement. One of the things I made sure to do was clean the fuel injectors. I got a syringe that was the perfect side for the fuel injector o ring. Glued the red tube from the carb cleaner into it. I made up a momentary switch that would let me activate the fuel injector. Two where really bad to start with. once they where spraying clean I completely rebuilt them. I got a kit with new pintel caps, o rings for both ends and new filters. Fully replaced them all and this puppy runs great. Ohms tested the Fuel injectors and they were all between 14.6 and 14.8.

Now, in fairness I pulled a little bit of a part ****** move in that since I was putting a reman motor in I replaced all of the sensors except for the MAF sensor and IAC. Mostly because that stuff was all at 250K miles.