need clarification

[mtp_m]

my check engine light came on about 2mths ago and now my car has a stutter, i thought it was just when i was sitting at the light but i think i notice it when i ride slow. today i noticed that when i was sitting at the light it started to stutter (could feel the car shake a little) and the oil light came on but went off when i started driving, my friend is betting his life that its the o2 censors. when the engine light first came on autozone said that its the o2 censors, now pepboys is telling me to take it back to the dealer. i went back to autozone for another diagnosis and they said "system lean banks 1 and 2", but could not say that its the o2 censors. i just had a tune up done about a month ago did not change 02 censors or gas filter. any thoughts

[garync1]

Was the code a 171 and 174?? If so there is a big post at top on the real problem.. A lot cheaper if you can DIY it.

[mtp_m]

i asked for the exact codes but the guy would not give it to me he said something to the effect that the problem was to far gone for him to give me a exact code. the first time they checked it had codes and said it was the o2 censor but they did not give them to my fiance

[KCMike]

Sounds like he wasn't very sure of what he was doing. If he had a Scan Tool it would give a specific code, no matter how "far gone" the problem. you may have gone to the wrong place. However I would be more concerned with the oil light. This is a seperate warning system, won't show a code, and will cause sever damage. Good Luck. Don't drive anymore with the oil light on until you know why and correct it.

[mundy5]

agreed. the two issues appear to be different. when i went to an auto parts store, they also told me it's probably the o2 sensor but the codes were p0171 and p0174. this is the big post at the top of this forum. i did the fix myself. it was kind of fun.

Regarding your motor oil light, I would check your level to see if that is actually true. If you actually have a full engine oil level, then something is wrong with the sensor. i'd go back to an auto parts store like auto zone and they will give you the codes. The lean bank 1 and bank 2 are the exactly same codes as p171 and p174. hope this helps.

[wiswind]

Your profile has 1999 windstar.
The post at the top of the windstar page applys to your vehcile......including the front valve cover for the PCV valve baffel.

The most common cause of P0171 and /or P0174, which are lean codes for banks 1 and 2, is a vaccum leak.
The post at the top of the page lists the most common cause for this on the 1999 and newer windstars.
Other causes can be dirty MAF, a disconnected vaccum line, a cracked or broken vaccum line, a fuel pressure/delivery problem, or the big flex hose that goes from the MAF/Air filter to the throttle body being loose at one end.
Also check the crankcase breather line....which on the 1999 and newer goes from the rear valve cover to the big flex hose.