Need advice!! lots of upgrades and throwing a lean code!!!

Guys see my
My 2003 Redfire Vert Refresh/Upgrade/Modifications from Stock Thread
for more info on my car.
Recap.

Got car upgraded from stock to ported blower with lots of supporting mods.
Had car dynoed before clutch.
Discovered clutch slipping when got car back (had 1 day).
New clutch. Babied clutch but have got on it a few times in 2nd and 3rd (maybe 1/2 a dozen). Always rolled the throttle over the course of a second or 2.

On 2 occasions, when I went WOT, in 3rd I have check engine codes. P1000, P0174, and P0171. I have put about 150 miles on her in 3 seperate trips. No codes or overheating for the first 100+ miles. Didnt have codes until the WOT.

I assume it is my tune? Could it be that it goes lean at WOT because clutch was slipping on dyno and that effected the tuning... meaning my tuner does not suck OR is it there is no good explanation and stay away from tuner, eat the cost, and get a retune elsewhere OR could it be exhaust leak or vaccuum leak and not tune related at all?

This is new to me and I am trying to learn and not jack up my car. Note: when the codes are thrown it will overheat at idle. It does not overheat if the codes are cleared..

I do have a x4 tuner and an A/F gauge. I really do not know how to use the X4 or data log with it. Also I never saw the A/F drop below 11.


THX in advance!!!!!

Did you install a new intake? If so, double-check to be certain you don't have a loose seal. How lean does it go on WOT?

CobraBob said:

Did you install a new intake? If so, double-check to be certain you don't have a loose seal. How lean does it go on WOT?

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I dont know. I dont know how to check except to drive it, go wot, and watch the a/f. I didnt see it dip below 11 when driving.
Only happened twice at wot.

This tread might help.

https://www.svtperformance.com/threads/p0174-p0171-error-code-help.738104/

X4. Should have real-time data.

Po1000 was you scanned before drive cycle was complete

Po171/174 Is o2 sensors saying you have unmetered air interring after mass air. In a area that effects both sides.

Pcv line is the most common area to effectively set both sides.

Line on bottom of intake will harden at nipple
Ford did not use a clamp here.

Hose will not pull off but will spin on nipple. This is enough to set codes

On the same line. There are rubber elbows. This also cause codes these will soften and close/squeeze together and crack


But overheating is a bigger issue.
How are you filling system?


Chilton Library

In here is the pc/ed section of our manual

It tells in detail how systems work and what values you should be seeing
While using x4.
Lots of reading when trying to learn.

I would take the time to get your Xcal4 up and running for datalogging. Figure out how to get your wideband to log in live link 2 as well. Probably be able to pinpoint the problem with logging. Seems weird that the car tuned ok, now you are having problems after the clutch install.

Blownfox - Thank you.

Hotcobra03 - Information appreciated, I will investigate that next. It only overheated 2x both times when codes were tripped. I reset codes and let her idle for a long time no overheat, no cycling AC. Each time I caught it and the needle never even pegged out at hot! And YES this has already been an education, mostly in how much money it costs VS how much you think it'll cost

03cobra#2 - Yes I will also do that and install the program this week.

I also have a 91 tune. I plan to drain the tank and convert to the 91 and see if the problem duplicates. That will help me eliminate the tune or bad e54 (if the problem goes away), right?

My buddy had a spot on, badass E85 tune from 04sleeper.....all was great. Until one day I'm with him, he needs to fill up....didn't have his test kit but did have a mason jar. He fills up, gets a sample in the mason jar....vehicle barely starts up, runs like crap, throws RICH codes all over the place. We limped home, I say get that sample in the mason jar. It was like E45! Complete junk.

We hooked a hose up to the fuel line, got a tune from Kevin to turn the pumps on full blast....we drained th fuel into his flex fuel tahoe. Got a 5 gallon jug, found quality 85% from another station, took it home, fled her up....ran like a champ, codes never came back.

If you have a spot on 54% tune....and your pump somehow got 85% in it....you are going to run LEAN. Now you could have other issues, like vacuum or pcv....but I'd rule the fuel out first thing.

c6zhombre said:

My buddy had a spot on, badass E85 tune from 04sleeper.....all was great. Until one day I'm with him, he needs to fill up....didn't have his test kit but did have a mason jar. He fills up, gets a sample in the mason jar....vehicle barely starts up, runs like crap, throws RICH codes all over the place. We limped home, I say get that sample in the mason jar. It was like E45! Complete junk.

We hooked a hose up to the fuel line, got a tune from Kevin to turn the pumps on full blast....we drained th fuel into his flex fuel tahoe. Got a 5 gallon jug, found quality 85% from another station, took it home, fled her up....ran like a champ, codes never came back.

If you have a spot on 54% tune....and your pump somehow got 85% in it....you are going to run LEAN. Now you could have other issues, like vacuum or pcv....but I'd rule the fuel out first thing.

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Thank you.
That helps me know that the drain and refill or drain and fill to 91 tune is a worthwhile test!!

It is just SUPER bad luck (if thats the case) on the first 150 miles in a car I just got back after 10k being dumped into it!!!! I cant rule anything out cuz its ALL new. Good solid 1st world problem to have, I suppose!!!

KevinsVertTerminator said:

Thank you.
That helps me know that the drain and refill or drain and fill to 91 tune is a worthwhile test!!

It is just SUPER bad luck (if thats the case) on the first 150 miles in a car I just got back after 10k being dumped into it!!!! I cant rule anything out cuz its ALL new. Good solid 1st world problem to have, I suppose!!!

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It may or may not be worth while to drain it....what you need is a sample from your tank and test it. If it's in the range of E54....that's not the problem. Then start looking for the other things already listed here like vacuum. Get the datalogging figured out to help pinpoint.

The really weird part to me is that its throwing lean codes while at WOT. The ECU isn't even using the O2 sensors at WOT. So it shouldn't be throwing that code.

I would say check all the wiring from the recent install. There's a chance something get hit when the engine torques over from the load. Maybe it shorts the fan, which would cause the overheat at idle, and messed with the O2 sensors.

01yellercobra said:

The really weird part to me is that its throwing lean codes while at WOT. The ECU isn't even using the O2 sensors at WOT. So it shouldn't be throwing that code.

I would say check all the wiring from the recent install. There's a chance something get hit when the engine torques over from the load. Maybe it shorts the fan, which would cause the overheat at idle, and messed with the O2 sensors.

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It's difficult to say when the sequence of events caused the check engine to actually light up on the dash. Doesn't it take a few instances before it illuminates? Could just be coincidence it lit up under WOT

Also, I'm not a big fan of eye balling the wideband.....you really need to log AF once you figure out the datalogging process. Just too difficult WOT and trying to watch the road. Nice to see what the parameters are indicating at certain rpm's and what the subsequent AF is showing.

hotcobra03 said:

X4

Click to expand...

c6zhombre said:

It's difficult to say when the sequence of events caused the check engine to actually light up on the dash. Doesn't it take a few instances before it illuminates? Could just be coincidence it lit up under WOT

Also, I'm not a big fan of eye balling the wideband.....you really need to log AF once you figure out the datalogging process. Just too difficult WOT and trying to watch the road. Nice to see what the parameters are indicating at certain rpm's and what the subsequent AF is showing.

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Thanks - for sure, it took 30 sec to a minute before it came on. I purposely drove it around with no issues then one WOT pull and it came on shortly after. On a different night I reset the ecu and duplicated the results. Even getting in it mid to 3/4 throttle did not trip it. It was not until foot to floor (even gradually leaning into it) that it coded!

c6zhombre said:

It's difficult to say when the sequence of events caused the check engine to actually light up on the dash. Doesn't it take a few instances before it illuminates? Could just be coincidence it lit up under WOT

Also, I'm not a big fan of eye balling the wideband.....you really need to log AF once you figure out the datalogging process. Just too difficult WOT and trying to watch the road. Nice to see what the parameters are indicating at certain rpm's and what the subsequent AF is showing.

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Still an odd sequence of events. And it didn't start until after the work was done. Always best to retrace your last steps first IMO.

01yellercobra said:

Still an odd sequence of events. And it didn't start until after the work was done. Always best to retrace your last steps first IMO.

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Absolutely. That's why I suggested checking the fuel first thing, rule it out before pulling too many hairs. The fill up with unknown ethanol % was the last step to retrace. If it's 54% in that tank....start retracing hardware

c6zhombre said:

Absolutely. That's why I suggested checking the fuel first thing, rule it out before pulling too many hairs. The fill up with unknown ethanol % was the last step to retrace. If it's 54% in that tank....start retracing hardware

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The things I need to learn about E85.

01yellercobra said:

The things I need to learn about E85.

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Don't you have the ms3, dual widebands and an ethanol sensor? Or are planning that setup to run ethanol? If so, testing pump side won't be as necessary for you, unless you just want to check periodically and see if that ethanol sensor is still in the ballpark.

Now a factory ecu, sct software, "static" situation....I suggest to anyone reading this, test the fuel every time. Because shiit does happen and the ecu has no idea. It's always right when you get lulled to sleep....this damn pump has tested this or that % every single time for years...that one time you don't test, that's when you get burned.

Have the car tuned on 85%......get a tank of 55%.....you will run rough and off the charts rich. Have the car tuned on 55%.....get a tank of 85%....you will run off the charts lean. So much so, I would expect codes to pop. Now 10% difference? 85 to 75 or vice versa.....it will run just fine. No codes. You will have no idea it's off, unless you logged AF and see the slight variance WOT

c6zhombre said:

Don't you have the ms3, dual widebands and an ethanol sensor? Or are planning that setup to run ethanol? If so, testing pump side won't be as necessary for you, unless you just want to check periodically and see if that ethanol sensor is still in the ballpark.

Now a factory ecu, sct software, "static" situation....I suggest to anyone reading this, test the fuel every time. Because shiit does happen and the ecu has no idea. It's always right when you get lulled to sleep....this damn pump has tested this or that % every single time for years...that one time you don't test, that's when you get burned.

Have the car tuned on 85%......get a tank of 55%.....you will run rough and off the charts rich. Have the car tuned on 55%.....get a tank of 85%....you will run off the charts lean. So much so, I would expect codes to pop. Now 10% difference? 85 to 75 or vice versa.....it will run just fine. No codes. You will have no idea it's off, unless you logged AF and see the slight variance WOT

Click to expand...

Yes I do. And I'm hoping to have the ethanol sensor working in the next week or so. But I think understanding how things work will help with the tuning. Especially when it comes time to figure out dual tables and blending everything.

https://www.svtperformance.com/thre...rade-modifications-from-stock-thread.1185915/

After rereading link was missing to visit.

On the overheating.

See you have a overflow tank and can’t open it?

Has this been fixed?

170tstat. Was fan settings changed ?

Option B

Get a good hand scanner.

Most have freeze frame.
Which gives information on when code was triggered

Like timing,rpm,engine temp,speed,how much throttle

Very useful

They are worth the 300 or so investment.

I got the Bosch 1350. It has on demand ford tests even.