What's up with this Check Engine Light?
03-25-2003, 05:50 PM
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What's up with this Check Engine Light?
My Engine is giving me a code PO 171, system too lean, bank one.
I've done a search and only come up with someone saying they had similar code then cleaned MAF= no more light.
Is this all it could be?
I think this was originally caused by driving in very dusty desert washes that also had washboard floor, so vibration might also be another cause.
Someone said my deckplate mod might be the reason, but I had it for quite some time before the check engine light came on.
But,I drove home from the desert ok until next morning on way to work the light comes on.
I've done a search and only come up with someone saying they had similar code then cleaned MAF= no more light.
Is this all it could be?
I think this was originally caused by driving in very dusty desert washes that also had washboard floor, so vibration might also be another cause.
Someone said my deckplate mod might be the reason, but I had it for quite some time before the check engine light came on.
But,I drove home from the desert ok until next morning on way to work the light comes on.
03-25-2003, 06:27 PM
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Have you still not cleaned your MAF? 
Once you clean it, you will need to have the code cleared. Simply resetting the ECU will NOT clear it. You will need an OBDII Scan Tool to do this or have someone do it for you. If you are near an AutoZone, they will do that for free. A dealer might do it for free also. You will need to call them first.
You really ought to clean the MAF. It'll take you about 15 minutes to remove it, clean it, dry it and put it back.
Good luck!
Dr. Z
Once you clean it, you will need to have the code cleared. Simply resetting the ECU will NOT clear it. You will need an OBDII Scan Tool to do this or have someone do it for you. If you are near an AutoZone, they will do that for free. A dealer might do it for free also. You will need to call them first.
You really ought to clean the MAF. It'll take you about 15 minutes to remove it, clean it, dry it and put it back.
Good luck!
Dr. Z
03-25-2003, 08:54 PM
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Yeah I cleaned the MAF, but someone just mentioned that I might have missed a very small part down one of the sides of the MAF. I just cleaned the gold colored bulb and the wire it is connected to.
I thought if I pulled the efi fuse it cleared any codes stored there?
It has turned out the check engine light, temporarily (15mi), then something makes it come back on.
I thought if I pulled the efi fuse it cleared any codes stored there?
It has turned out the check engine light, temporarily (15mi), then something makes it come back on.
03-26-2003, 05:00 AM
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Hey Rob,
The light comes back on simply because the code has not been cleared. Even if the condition no longer exists, the light will come back on until it is erased from memory by an OBDII scan tool. OBDI cars could have their codes erased by pulling the EFI Fuse, but not OBDII.
If you don't have a scan tool, yet own a laptop and can afford $85, check out the BR-2.
Hope this helps.
Dr. Z
EDIT: If you want to see some of the things it can do, check out this thread.
The light comes back on simply because the code has not been cleared. Even if the condition no longer exists, the light will come back on until it is erased from memory by an OBDII scan tool. OBDI cars could have their codes erased by pulling the EFI Fuse, but not OBDII.
If you don't have a scan tool, yet own a laptop and can afford $85, check out the BR-2.
Hope this helps.
Dr. Z
EDIT: If you want to see some of the things it can do, check out this thread.
Last edited by Dr. Zhivago; 03-26-2003 at 05:23 AM.
03-26-2003, 05:19 PM
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Originally posted by Mojo_Risin
Or you can take your rig to Autozone - they have the Scan Tool and will clear the code for free.
John
Or you can take your rig to Autozone - they have the Scan Tool and will clear the code for free.
John
I already checked, they can't do it because of some law that was passed that "protects the automotive repair industry" by not giving away free diagnostic checks.
03-26-2003, 07:04 PM
#7
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Originally posted by RobT2k
Not in California
Not in California
For that price, buy a BR-2 like Dr. Z suggested. They're a geat box and do a LOT more than just get you the diag codes and let you clear the MIL.
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