p0174/p0171 ...other possible causes?

[Top_Notch]

2000 Windstar 3.8 with 68k miles.

CEL codes of p0174/p0171. Anything to check before I pull the intake and replace the isolator bolts?

The only symptom (other than the CEL) is that occasionally the car will stumble at idle, but it regains a normal idle and otherwise runs fine.

Also, I note that some have had to RTV the baffle to keep it from rattleing. I notice a rattle occasionally which goes away when I change gas pedal pressure. Is it possible to have a loose baffle although I've never been into the intake? How (much) and where do you RTV the baffle?

And lastly, can anyone advise the best place to get parts or do I bend over at my local Ford dealership?

[DRW1000]

Any vacuum hose, weak fuel pressure and MAF are things you might want to check first.

[busboy4]

Hi
I have RTV'd a baffle on a '00. Not a big deal. When you pull the upper half of the manifold off, you can remove the "inner" baffle which is held in by two clips on either end, opposite sides. You will see that the sharp edges of the inner baffle rest in "journals" in the upper manifold. I put the RTV into the journals at every other position, snapped the baffle back into place, then flipped it over so that it was standing on the inner baffle "extensions" (you'll see what I mean) so that the weight of the manifold pressed down on the drying RTV, left it for a few hours and put it back together. No noise.

Yes I believe you can have noise even if you have not opened the manifold. I did not but have read of others.

As to other reasons: you must have additional air entering the intake system downstream of the throttle. Like the other post said, vacuum lines leaking, or the fuel pressure regulator vacuum hose on the front.

In case you haven't seen it:
http://leckemby.net/windstar/windstar01.html

Good luck

[lewisnc100]

First time I got those codes on my windstar it was the fuel pressure regulator vacuum line which had loosened up and came off the intake. Replaced that and didn't have to do the isolator bolt fix until 2 years later.

Watch ebay for a redesigned plenum and baffle, I got one for $40 including shipping.

[AvalonJohn]

TopNotch,

I always go to rockauto.com to look for parts first. There are other good ones as well, so if you don't see what you want at on site, google for others.

AvalonJohn