2000 Windstar P171-P172
Cessnadriver
10-26-2006, 11:41 PM
My wife's 2000 Windstar threw two codes today- P171 &172. the local Autozone read the codes, and tried hard to sell us a IAC valve as the van would hardly idle. the trouble started this morning when first started. Idle went to 2000 rpms and stayed there till warmed up. As the day progressed, it got to where it would hardly run, then gave the CEL.
The forums said look for a massive vacuum leak, and sure enough it was right in front of the valve cover. A line running from a port on the front of the valve cover via a rubber boot, to a regulator of some sort. You could really hear that thing sucking. Hooked it up, and she calmed right down. The boot was so easy to come off I put a ty-wrap on it to secure it.
The forums have once again paid for my broadband access for another few months.
The forums said look for a massive vacuum leak, and sure enough it was right in front of the valve cover. A line running from a port on the front of the valve cover via a rubber boot, to a regulator of some sort. You could really hear that thing sucking. Hooked it up, and she calmed right down. The boot was so easy to come off I put a ty-wrap on it to secure it.
The forums have once again paid for my broadband access for another few months.
phil-l
10-27-2006, 06:28 AM
I'm pleased to hear your repair worked so well. I'd like to think that OBDII code readers would put an end to people replacing parts that have nothing to do with the problem, but unknowledgeable parts store staff still try.
FordBoss88
10-27-2006, 01:35 PM
This is excellent that results are being posted. Thanks to Cessna! :)
chasealley
10-28-2006, 12:12 PM
Hey phil,
I worked at a shop in the mid 90's (before obdii during the 'breakout box' and $5000 snap-on phase) and our computer guy had NO idea :) Meaning, if a sensor reported an out-of-range value then the problem had to be the sensor or the PCM - let's try both. As far as they were concerned there were no mechanical parts on a car.
So yep, I assume those guys are still out there and most of the time it is chocked up to lack of knowledge of how the whole system works.
Vacuum still seems to be on of the great equalizers.....
I worked at a shop in the mid 90's (before obdii during the 'breakout box' and $5000 snap-on phase) and our computer guy had NO idea :) Meaning, if a sensor reported an out-of-range value then the problem had to be the sensor or the PCM - let's try both. As far as they were concerned there were no mechanical parts on a car.
So yep, I assume those guys are still out there and most of the time it is chocked up to lack of knowledge of how the whole system works.
Vacuum still seems to be on of the great equalizers.....
phil-l
10-28-2006, 01:48 PM
chasealley -
Let's hear it for folks who are willing to understand the whole system.
OBDII scanners are excellent tools - but they still require careful thought.
Quick, recent example: A neighbor kid's '96 Mustang 3.8 (about 90K miles) started running rough. I did some tune-up work - but quickly came to the conclusion it was something outside the normal tune-up arena. I had him take it to a shop - which ultimately said it needed an engine replacement! My BS meter pegged at this point - so I had them tow it to my house (front of motor partially disassembled at this point). Cut to the chase: The harmonic balancer had fractured, which was throwing off spark timing and causing lots of strange problems. With a junkyard harmonic balancer, a bunch of gaskets and a new water pump, the car is running great. The shop simply wasn't interested in really discovering the root cause of the problem - and was more interested in $2K+ to install a junkyard motor. If you're curious, some pictures of the project here:
http://good-times.webshots.com/album/552022226RktMDS
Let's hear it for folks who are willing to understand the whole system.
OBDII scanners are excellent tools - but they still require careful thought.
Quick, recent example: A neighbor kid's '96 Mustang 3.8 (about 90K miles) started running rough. I did some tune-up work - but quickly came to the conclusion it was something outside the normal tune-up arena. I had him take it to a shop - which ultimately said it needed an engine replacement! My BS meter pegged at this point - so I had them tow it to my house (front of motor partially disassembled at this point). Cut to the chase: The harmonic balancer had fractured, which was throwing off spark timing and causing lots of strange problems. With a junkyard harmonic balancer, a bunch of gaskets and a new water pump, the car is running great. The shop simply wasn't interested in really discovering the root cause of the problem - and was more interested in $2K+ to install a junkyard motor. If you're curious, some pictures of the project here:
http://good-times.webshots.com/album/552022226RktMDS
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