Im new to this and need helpppp! p 1516?

[96 Windstar gurl]

Im trying to help my parents with thier car problems. does anyone know what code p1516 is and how to fix it?

[olopezm]

Hello welcome to the forum, this code has something to do with the Intake Manifold Running Control (IMRC from now on).

Is the van running or idling rough?

Take a look at this PDF with information about that code.

IMRC troubleshooting

Also take a look at this thread regarding a similar problem with the IMRC:
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t895253.html

Best regards,

Oscar.

[wiswind]

1996 through 1998 uses a separate vaccum driven actuator for each bank of cylinders (1 for the front bank and another one for the rear bank).

1999 and newer uses 1 electrical driven actuator for both banks of cylinders.

While they made the Windstar in 1995, that year did not have any IMR system.

From your name, I am guessing that you are talking about a 1996.
Here is a picture that shows a closeup of the IMRC actuator, linkage, and end of the shaft on my '96 windstar.
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2818...11220610NJerWA

This picture shows the intake ports for 1 cylinder in the lower intake manifold.
I took this picture when I had the big black upper intake manifold off to clean the EGR ports in the lower intake manifold.
The view is from the passenger side of the vehicle....so the front of the vehicle is to the right.
Each cylinder has 2 ports, 1 port is always open and has the EGR port, that 1/4" hole you see in the right hand port.
The 2nd port has a plate in it that is mounted on a shaft, with vaccum applied to the IMRC actuator, the shaft is turned so that all the plates CLOSE off that 2nd port for each cylinder.
This means, when the motor is not running, the ports are all open, held open by strong springs.
As soon as you start the vehicle, there is vaccum, which will be directed to the actuators, which will pull in, and turn the shafts, closing the 2nd port.
If there is not enough vaccum, the actuator will not be able to pull the shaft closed.
A common cause of this is a leak in one of the actuators.
If the leak is bad enough, it will rob the other actuator of the vaccum it needs, causing BOTH actuator to not work.....but only 1 of them is defective.
The actuators get their vaccum from the SAME vaccum line, which is connected to the back side of the upper intake manifold (where you cannot see it).
This vaccum line connects to a electrical valve, which controls the vaccum to the IMRC actuators.
This "valve" is called the IMRC Vaccum Control Solenoid.
The PCM (computer) decides when to interrupt the vaccum to the IMRC actuators, causing them to open.
The IMRC only opens under HARD engine load, like passing or going hard up a hill.
Otherwise, they are always closed, except when the motor is not running (because there is no vaccum in the intake when the motor is not running).

Now, the failure code and lit CEL (Check Engine Light) will prevent you from passing the state emissions inspection in many locations.
However, if they are not working, problems can be caused by 1 of them stuck open while the other one is closed.....resulting in more air to one bank of cylinders than the other.
Also, if both banks are stuck open, you can experience some low speed, low RPM roughness.
If you have both banks stuck CLOSED, your vehile should run just fine, just no extra boost of power under hard accelleration.
However, there is NO ill effect in operation of the motor of both banks being kept closed.
If they are staying open because of a vaccum leak in the IMRC system (like a disconnected vaccum line), then you could have the problems that come from extra air in the system, which is a common cause of the CEL lighting with stored code(s) of P0171 and/or P0174 which indicate a "lean" condition (not enough fuel for the air entering the cylinders).

The IMRC actuators are expensive, and they are somewhat delicate.
There is a diaphram in there that can be easily cracked, which will cause the vaccum to leak through the crack, preventing it from working.

The electrical connections on each IMRC actuator are to detect if it is in the OPEN or CLOSED position.