Check Engine Light - Need Advise

Have 1999 Contour, V6Engine, 73,000miles check engine light came on - took to Ford Dlr - said it was input manifold gaskets & replaced for $278. Drove 20 mi light came back on - took back to Dlr & he now says the lower intake housing also needs replacing for an additional $474. Didn't buy it. Took to local garage for scanning - he got code P1131 - Manufacturing control - turned it off and drove 20 mi light came back on. Took to another Ford Dlr - told me it was probably O2 sensor, but wanted to redo wiring before went further. I looked at wires feel they look fine - took to Autozone and got P1131 code again. Called Ford Dlr and asked what code meant - said he wasn't sure, but probably catalytic converter.

Need advice for next move - don't have alot of money to put into this car.

$278!!!! :banghead: The gaskets new from ford are about $10! Its literally about a 20 minute job tops to replace them. Unbolt the 6 bolts that hold on the uim and replace the gaskets.

From the thread directly below this one with P1131 in the title:

P1131 Lack of Upstream Heated Oxygen Sensor Switch - Sensor Indicates Lean - Bank No. 1 (Rear of engine). As i said in that thread, check for vacuum leaks and replace your rear bank upper most 02 sensor.

It appears I need to replace the bank 1, 02 sensor.
I don't know what this looks like or just where it's located. Can I replave this myself. My experience has been repairing farm equipment and tractors.Thanks

Its on the rear of the engine, before the pre-catalytic convertor on the exhaust manifold. Youll need a wrench to take it off.

Does't appear to be any vacuum leaks.Bought a Bosch oxygen sensor from Aut-zone that they recommended. Installed it, turned off the light, drove 15 miles and light came back on. Auto-zone scanned and got P1131 again(fuel air metering device) Now what? thanks

Does't appear to be any vacuum leaks.Bought a Bosch oxygen sensor from Aut-zone that they recommended. Installed it, turned off the light, drove 15 miles and light came back on. Auto-zone scanned and got P1131 again(fuel air metering device) Now what? thanks

clean the maf.

Sorry--not familiar with what maf stands for thanks

mass air flow meter. Its the black unit located right before the intake.

Sounds like something I should try....where exactly is this MAF and how should I clean it??? I was also told to change my spark plugs, that they may not be firing to their full potential, hence the car's using too much gas causing the emission problem. Sound like that makes sense??

I dont think its your plugs. If they werent performing to spec, it would be running rich, not lean.

The maf is located between the accordian tube of the intake and the filter. Its a black cylindercal unit with a sensor with plug on top.

Heres how to clean the MAF.
http://www.contour.org/mods/mods.php?s=howto&displayid=36

Took out MAF and it was perfectly clean--put back in--turned off CEL---drove approx. 45 miles and CEL came back on. Car runs good. Should I just forget it? thanks

I now have the CEL code P1131 ;
P1131, Lack of Upstream Heated Oxygen Sensor Switch - Sensor Indicates Lean - Bank No. 1.
My internet search found this [ http://fordfuelinjection.com/files/HEGO_OBDII.pdf ] to be most informative and helpful on this code.
Now, I just have to find the code cause.
Easiest to check, check oil dipstick and clear light. Then check or replace Air/fuel filters and spark plugs, exhaust, vacuum leaks, sensor voltage.

i have a 1999 ford contour. ive had it for nearly 6 yrs. the tranny has only been serviced once. i am now having issues with the shifting; changed air filter and shifts a lot better. when i went to get filter changed, which is actually a screen, the shop that just services trannys said they do not even mess with thing like that because of how it is put in; like a book on a shelf, instead of flat like usual trannys. they asked if check engine light is comin on cuz it could just be the computer needing reset; that wasnt the case so they told me to go to the best tranny mechanic in the next town i live in & they asked what it was doing; high pitched hum until speed gets up to about 45. they told me the tranny was going out. my car has almost 194k miles on it. we called 'our' mechanic to see what we could do to prolong the usage n he told us to get some lucas stop-leak for the tranny. when my husband put the stop-leak in he said the fluid was nearly a quart & a half low and is now shifting a lot better & isnt making the high pitched hum anymore...is there still a possability my transmission could be going out?

it sounds to me, after dealing with my tansmission, that the sensor just needs to be reset. i go to the best of the best where i live and when i tried to have my tranny 'screen' changed they told me they werent able to bla bla bla but asked if the check engine light was comin on bcuz sometimes they just need to be reset. my husbands CEL has been on for two years now and thats all that was wrong...i honestly dont think theres a major problem but i am also not a mechanic, just know a thing or two around vehicles since ive been around them my whole life...hope my advice works for u & good luck!