Lean Codes and Extreme Rough Idle
Alright, this is gonna be kind of long but I’m at a loss.
I have a 2002 Ranger Edge Ext Cab, 2WD, Automatic with the 3.0L Flex Fuel Engine.
The CEL is on with codes P0171 and P0174 (Lean Bank 1 and Lean Bank 2).
Truck was running fine with light on. Shut it off to fill up with gas. When I went to restart it, it would refire but idled extremely rough and would die after just a few seconds. I had it towed to the local auto shop guru in our town (he comes very highly recommended and has worked on vehicles for me before). He found the two lean codes and a code for cyl 5 misfire. Found coil pack bad so it was replaced. The codes were reset and I drove away with the truck running just fine.
50 miles later the CEL light came back on. I was busy with work and couldn’t get it back to him immediately and approximately 2 weeks later, when I went to start it to go to work, it did exactly the same as before. Extremely rough idle for 5-8 seconds then stall out. Had it towed back to the shop. This time he found the elbow on the PCV tube that goes into the intake manifold broken creating a huge vacuum leak. He replaced the tube, the PCV valve and the upper intake manifold gasket (upper intake manifold had to be removed to get the tube out). Also had a cyl misfire code again so he tried another coil pack with no help so he put the previous one back in. Reset codes and once again drove away happy.
The very next day the CEL light came back on. Took it back and checked fuel pressure. The needle on the gauge was fluttering so fast we couldn’t read it. Replaced the fuel filter and rechecked the pressure. It was solid on 58psi. I know the pressure is supposed to be 60-65 but we thought we’d try it. He once again reset the codes.
10 miles later CEL light back on and same issue with rough idle at start then dies. Once again towed to the shop and it has now been there for 3 weeks. Here’s what has been done this time: Only way to keep the engine running is to spray carb cleaner in the air intake continuously but fuel pressure has now dropped to 52psi., Replaced fuel pump – now on third fuel pump – 2 after market ones and now a Motorcraft pump is installed, Replaced fuel pressure regulator, Cannot locate any vacuum leaks, Cleaned fuel rail and checked injectors for blockage, Tried starting with gas cap removed – No Joy. He is now chasing wires to see if it’s an electrical problem.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
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2002 Ranger Edge Ext Cab 2WD Auto 3.0L Flex
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