Code P0174, took to shop 3rd time still no fix!!!!WTF

[sil_stang02]

Ok guys, this is the 2nd forum ive posted on this... But Ive been battling the code P0174 for about a month!!! Bad gas mileage and smoke.... Ive took it to the shop twice, and paid twice totaling 500 dlls, took it back today , cause the engine light has come back on and still same code....Whats wrong with these shops, I mean I took it to a shop that has good reputation here in norhtern virginia..... I dont know what to do??? First they told me it was a bad wire on the front sensor and they fixed it, ok, nope not it, light came back on 3 days later, paid 150... 2nd round, took it back, they replaced two sensors front and back on bank 2, 350 dlls..... Nope not it, 1 day later light came back on.. So now I took it back for 3rd round!!!! WTF... Im getting really frustrated!!! Arent these shops suppose to have diagnosis machines to fix this???? What you guys think it could be now???
thanks for listening and responsescrapola

 

[menasci]

did you post this 3 times in the other forums too?

 

[sil_stang02]

did you post this 3 times in the other forums too?

Dude, I dont know, I thought it was just my drunk A*S seeing 3, but i guess it posted 3 times... I dont know!!1

 

[cooter_11]

Ok first off, there are no machines that fix cars, only technicians. While we may have an aid to tell us some certain steps to take in diagnosis, 95% of the time the books don't fix the cars. We have to think outside the box, and actually understand the systems in order to locate the source of the problem that's causing your symptom.

Your car probably did have a bad wire, so they started there. Since that didn't fix your car, they probably just swapped out the parts and hoped for the best. Since that didn't fix your car, they were kinda SOL. Could you elaborate on what the P0174 code is? From what you say it's an O2 code, but could you give the full description? Also one last question, did you take it to an authorized Ford dealer or an independent?

Maybe I could ask the diagnosis machine what it thinks.

 

[sgarlic]

We see this problem at least twice a week. Clean your MAF. Wish you would've asked here first.

 

[sil_stang02]

Ok first off, there are no machines that fix cars, only technicians. While we may have an aid to tell us some certain steps to take in diagnosis, 95% of the time the books don't fix the cars. We have to think outside the box, and actually understand the systems in order to locate the source of the problem that's causing your symptom.

Your car probably did have a bad wire, so they started there. Since that didn't fix your car, they probably just swapped out the parts and hoped for the best. Since that didn't fix your car, they were kinda SOL. Could you elaborate on what the P0174 code is? From what you say it's an O2 code, but could you give the full description? Also one last question, did you take it to an authorized Ford dealer or an independent?

Maybe I could ask the diagnosis machine what it thinks.

Well, whenever i pay someone for a service I expect it to get done!!! Period..They should have tested the car good enough before giving it back to me. If it takes them 3 or 4 visits to get a problem fix then maybe they should pick a new occupation.

They have been really nice and helpful, but it just frustates me...

Code P0174 is system too lean bank 2... And i cleaned the MAF and checked for leaks in the exahust and intake, but found nothing... So I had to go to them.. They are an independent, not ford.... A couple of ford dealerships out here have not been very much help in the past, so I thought I would try an independent.. Plus with ford, they ask for an arm and leg for a little of their time...

 

[sgarlic]

2 questions:

1) What'd you clean the MAF with?

2) Are you running a FIPK?

 

[RandyStinchcomb]

OMG, here we go again.amnit: also, how is the car smoking? fuel, oil coolant? I'll bet they used aftermarket O2's and monitors, not OEM

 

[trailblazr81]

$350 to replace a O2 sensor??!! Is this really what most shops charge to replace a O2??

 

[blackfang]

Well, whenever i pay someone for a service I expect it to get done!!! Period..They should have tested the car good enough before giving it back to me. If it takes them 3 or 4 visits to get a problem fix then maybe they should pick a new occupation.

They have been really nice and helpful, but it just frustates me...

Code P0174 is system too lean bank 2... And i cleaned the MAF and checked for leaks in the exahust and intake, but found nothing... So I had to go to them.. They are an independent, not ford.... A couple of ford dealerships out here have not been very much help in the past, so I thought I would try an independent.. Plus with ford, they ask for an arm and leg for a little of their time...

I understand your frustration, but you really don't understand how automobiles work. There is never a guarantee that everything will be fixed right the first time. We try our best and alot of the time it works because the tehcnology helps us and our education and experience causes us to think outside the box to fix it.

Sometimes you can't really fix thing the first two maybe even three times around. Sometimes there are underlying issues that caused another problem that you do not see right away. Sometimes you need to fix one part in order to see if another part was affected.
Case in point, on an older thunderbird the cel came on and we replaced the parts related to that code. The code indicated what system to check and test, the tech looked at the system and that part actually was bad. Two days later the light comes back on. Same code but a different problem. Couldn't figure out why at first, but after some hunting around, the real problem was the PCM went bad as well. The tech did not know it, as the CEL indicated a bad part that actually was bad. There is no sure way he didn't count on the PCM also being bad.

Other things to consider that some vehicles actually run on oem parts alot better than aftermarket ones and that can create issues.

it is easy to get mad and place blame on a tech, because he is not the god who should have solved a problem that may have many causes the first time. Maybe you should have fixed it since you expect so much right away.

Personally I wouldnt have charged you the extra money if the problem was related to the same part. then again it probably wasn't and thats why they charged you.

What shop was this by the way?

 

[ToplessStang]

It isn't a MAF. If it were you'd also have a P0171. The lean condition is only on one bank. You should take into a reputable Ford dealer and have it tested. Seeing that it is on 1 bank, it can be anything from a problem with the COP to even an injector problem. They have the right equipment to check all that. Now does the Tech there know how to use it right, well that I don't know. Good luck and let us know.

 

[1fast03pony]

point is, he paid the mechs a lot of money to have this taken care of.
I dont know about you, but when I pay mechs i expect the job is done right, the first time.

 

[cooter_11]

I understand your frustration, and you do have a very valid point when saying they should've tested it through and through to make sure the problem wouldn't recurr. Just think though, if you would have taken it to a Ford dealer, you would have actually saved money because they would more than likely find it and fix it right the first time. I'm a tech and I bust my ass to barely make it by with the bills, and it gives us all a bad name when you badmouth us like that. Please just bite your tongue and take it to a Ford dealer.

 

[blackfang]

Honestly working at the dealership and at a smaller auto repair shop like merchants Tire And auto, I have noticed that the techs at the dealership tend to take more time to diagnose issues and are factory trained than those at a smaller shop. Why? because there is more pressure for the smaller shop to do volume getting the cars in and out and making a buck or two and satisfying the area managers and therefore their techs tend to be rushed.

Dealerships dont have to worry about getting a certain alignments done per day and selling so many tires a day.
Not all techs are bad but a good quality tech refuses to be rushed to diagnose.