p0401 p1132 p1152...Help!

[sjf7351]

So I pull these codes for the egr and running rich in both banks. Well the car is running rich bad, maybe getting 8-10mpg right now and leaving black soot marks from the exhaust. I cleaned the maf sensor with map cleaner, didn't change anything. Also checked the egr valve with a vacuum gauge and althought it made it stumble, it really didn't have any effect at full vacuum. Also the car chugs and surges and feels like its missing at idle and when under power. I'm getting a scan tool so I should be able the post the values from the MAF and others if needed. I'm assuming that it's either the MAF, DPFE, and/or the Idle Air Control Valve. Any help on how to proceed?

UPDATE: I pulled the throttle body off and the butterfly is covered in soot as is the entire manifold. Its so bad it looks like a chimney not an intake. How do i clean this? would it be better just to take off?

[shorod]

What year Taurus are you working on? Sounds like you have a bad vacuum leak or misfire. Does the car start okay?

-Rod

[sjf7351]

It's a 2000 se with the Vulcan 2V. I took the ICV and the EGR off and cleaned those too. I also cleaned out the intake as well as i could. Made sure the EGR was working and the passage was clear. Wheres a good place to hook up the vacuum gauge and what should it read at idle? Cleared the codes and took it for a ride. They came back and also it ran alot worse the warmer the engine got and a whole lot worse when the air was on. But yes it starts fine

[shorod]

I believe that Vulcan engine has a PCV valve, inspect the hoses for the EGR along with the grommet for the PCV to make sure they are not dry, cracked, or broken.

-Rod

[sjf7351]

Checked the PVC valve and hose, no leaks. Put a vacuum gauge on and it was steady. Cleared the codes again and they stayed off, but still running rich and when the is air on max it bucks and surges bad and has no power at all. Not so bad when the air is off. Any ideas?

[shorod]

All three of these codes could be due to a vacuum leak. Copy and paste isn't working for me right now, but fuel system pressure issues could also be the cause, such as a stuck fuel injector. Maybe you could try pulling one injector connector at a time to see if you have one that does not cause a change in the way the car runs.

-Rod

[sjf7351]

Checked fuel pressure and its about 50psi at idle. Any ideas where to get a diagram of the vacuum hoses so i can start tracing them down and see where its sucking air? I tried spraying ether all over and it didn't speed the engine up at all.

[shorod]

Even with a stuck injector the fuel pressure could still be in spec if the regulator is working correctly.

Is the emissions label with the vacuum diagram not still under the hood? Well, now that I think about it, it's been awhile since I've seen a vacuum diagram under the hood on a new car....

I probably can get the diagram for a 2002 Taurus which should be similar to the 2000.

-Rod

[sjf7351]

When I pulled the plugs, they were all evenly coated with soot so i think all the injectors firing the same.

[sjf7351]

Ok checked the injectors with the screw driver test and all were clicking. Checked all vacuum hoses and found a small leak at the PVC and fixed that, but no change. Vacuum is at around 15 on the gauge. Is that normal? My IAC is at 62% duty cycle with the air on at idle. Is this high? I'm now pull P0172 and P0175 System too rich bank 1 and 2 along with the other codes. Could this be a bad PCM? The MAF sensor is reading the right baro pressure for my altitude. Any guidance would be great.

[shorod]

The factory service manual suggests normal manifold vacuum is 15-22 in-Hg for a warm engine at idle. They allot you to drop 1 in-Hg for every 1000 feet above sea level.

Engine running fuel pressure should be 50-56 psi but should not drop rapidly when the engine is shut off. Have you tried that? If the pressure drops immediately then there is something draining the system and that is probably the same issue causing the rich condition. The KOEO fuel pressure should only drop to 45-56 psi.

-Rod

[sjf7351]

Alright I think we're getting close. Fuel pressure is running around 40psi at 860 rpm and when shut off it goes to about 38-36psi. Here's the fuel trim values: short term 1 -7.1%, long term 1 -18.8%, short term 2 -20.4%, long term 2 -18.8%. I listened to all the injectors and they're clicking away. It also smells like gas is in the oil now.

[sjf7351]

Just ran the scan again, now the fuel pressure is back up to 50-55psi, but as soon as I turn the car off it drops and in like 3-5 sec its down to 30-35psi. Also both of the long term fuel trims' are at around -25.0%. Any ideas what that something could be?

[shorod]

So the system is recognizing a rich condition and is attempting to lean it out, but apparently it is not leaning it enough since the oil smells of raw fuel. It's possible you have weak spark or plugs that are too coated to produce a strong enough spark to burn all the fuel currently. Likely not the original cause though.

With the pressure dropping rather quickly you might have a leaking fuel pressure regulator or could still have a fuel injector that is not able to close completely (but still attempts to switch).

-Rod

[sjf7351]

I'm thinking the pressure sensor cause all the plugs were equally dirty. Anyway to test this? I don't think all the injectors would go bad at once. There is a vacuum line that goes to it, but when I pulled it, the line had a strong vacuum.