Diagnostic Code Confusion

[MNstang2002]

I have a 2002 with 63,000 miles on it. The Check Engine light just came on and I brought it to autozone and the code was P1285 (Fuel Air Meter Control).
However...
I checked other sources about the code and it said that P1285 means Cyclinder Head Over Temperature. Any idea on which is correct and what this involves mechanically and financially?

The car seems to run OK in general, but the gas mileage has been down slightly on the past two tanks.


Any advice/inisght is great appreciated.

 

[bdcardinal]

the p1xxx codes are not standard. they are manufacturer specific codes and can be different for every manufacturer. the P0xxx codes are the same for every manufacturer.

 

[MNstang2002]

Autozone not reliable

So it turns out that Autozone gave me the wrong info on the code. (Right number, wrong description of the problem.) The engine is over temperature and apparently the thermostat is the cause. Any idea on the cost of a new one installed?

 

[bdcardinal]

you can pick up a new t-stat for about $10. all you would need to do is drain the coolant, take off the 2 bolts that hold on the housing, clean out the gasket areas, pull out the t-stat, replace the gasket, put in the new tstat, bolt the housing back on and fill. takes probably 20 minutes if you stop and scratch your ass for 18 minutes.

 

[MNstang2002]

Thanks for the help!