• Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

Car sounds awful and code P0171

  • Thread starter Thread starter bluextc
  • Start date Start date May 27, 2007
B

bluextc

New Member
Feb 12, 2006
99
1
0
South Jersey
May 27, 2007
#1
  • May 27, 2007
  • #1
Any ideas? The exhaust has been sounding like crap for about a week now. I noticed one tailpipe seems to be sitting lower than the other, so I thought maybe it was an exhaust leak, but today the service engine light came on, so I hooked up the sct and got "P0171 - System too lean 1". I did a quick look to see if anything was obviously wrong, but everything seems to be still connected properly and no obvious cracks in the hoses.
I haven't installed anything lately, the last thing was the h pipe, but that was about 6 or 7 months ago and it's been running fine until now. Here's the list of mods that I think might apply, in case that's needed:
Mac cai
accufab 75mm tb and plenum, mac o/r h pipe, flowmaster 40's, sct xcal 2 with 93 tune.
Thanks for any help you can give me...
 

4.6andSlicks

New Member
Aug 22, 2006
171
1
0
Central Connecticut
May 27, 2007
#2
  • May 27, 2007
  • #2
Here's what my manual says:
*Check air cleaner element and housing for blockage
*Verify fuel level. ( I guess they think you ran out)
*Check for disconnected spark plug wires (maybe?)
*Check for vacuum leaks
*Check integrity of the PCV system
*Check to make sure the Mass Air Flow sensor is connected

If these are all good it moves on to some more intense stuff involving
BARO, LONGFT1, LONGFT2 and MAF V PIDs on fully warmed-up engine. This is beyond me.

The next step wants you to check fuel pressure. Have you done that yet?
 
B

bluextc

New Member
Feb 12, 2006
99
1
0
South Jersey
May 28, 2007
#3
  • May 28, 2007
  • #3
No, I'm not even sure how to... I guess I'm just going to get out there and check the things you listed for me today. I do have an appointment to take it to my shop a week from today already, I just hate to wait that long to fix the problem if I can figure out what it is before that...
 
C

chuck943

New Member
Oct 26, 2002
262
0
0
north carolina
May 28, 2007
#4
  • May 28, 2007
  • #4
Anything that could cause to much unmetered air in engine or exhaust before it gets to O2 sensor. See PCM relies on measuring all the air coming into engine thru MAF then it measures the amount of oxygen present in exhaust and adjust the air/fuel mixture to a pre-calibrated level,if it can not get the oxygen content to read what it expects to see it will set the code, P0171 for bank 1 and P0174 for bank 2 for lean condition. Could be a vacuum leak,exhaust leak,not enough fuel,MAF sensor,etc. But since you only have code for one bank running lean I would concentrate on that side,like exhaust leak or leak around intake manifold on that bank,etc.
 
B

bluextc

New Member
Feb 12, 2006
99
1
0
South Jersey
May 29, 2007
#5
  • May 29, 2007
  • #5
Well, at this point I am pretty sure it's an exhaust leak... Car was supposed to go in next week, but I'm going to see if they can get to it sooner.
Thanks for the help.
 

Dusstbuster

I love meat more than anything! I just have a spec
May 31, 2004
1,462
33
64
Moorhead, Minnesota
May 29, 2007
#6
  • May 29, 2007
  • #6
Clean your Mass Airflow Sensor

My car was throwing random rich/lean codes for over a year, they were sporadic but annoying nonetheless. Put it on the dyno after doing what I think will be the end of my modding and found out my MAF was dirtier than a mofo and throwing the AF ratio off VERY bad. Make sure your MAF is clean as a whistle...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
Need MIL Eliminators?
  • crazyone64
  • May 18, 2026
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
3
Views
117
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech May 21, 2026
GOvert
G
B
Saying Hi
  • BriansNSane
  • Dec 20, 2025
  • The Welcome Wagon
Replies
5
Views
273
The Welcome Wagon Dec 21, 2025
BriansNSane
B
S
Fuel ‘88 GT Runs Rich Cold — Fixes Itself When I Unplug Sensors (ECT, MAF, O2, etc.)
  • Sufarry
  • Nov 6, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
12
Views
747
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Nov 9, 2025
Mustang5L5
C
Engine Code 13 and high idle
  • CmdrDerp
  • Dec 14, 2024
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
17
Views
819
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Dec 21, 2024
manicmechanic007
SN95 Desktop 363 Engine Combination - Looking for input
  • WhiteCobra95
  • Sep 8, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
11
Views
1K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Oct 6, 2025
Habu135
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?