Running Rich, Can't figure it out, Please help me out! Code 42 all the time!

Starscream88

New Member

Mar 8, 2003

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Park Ridge NJ

Apr 23, 2004

#1

• Apr 23, 2004

• #1

Check Engine light comes on all the time,

Same code, 42, Engine runnign rich,

I seem to be going through fuel quick (no duh lol)
and the Engine seems to be hotter than usual, Id guess from the extra fuel?
The exhaust sure is hot

This happened last week, and I dont drive the car anywhere, but its a weekend car,
The car runs fine, nothing wrong there,
But the check engine light keeps coming on and same code,

i power washed the engine last sunday after I finished installing the Gears,
Now obviously gears isn't got anything to do with this,
So I thought maybe me washing it annoyed it?

So I checked all the sensors, all the vaccum lines,
Everythings fine and connected,

What else is there that could be wrong?????

Please help

 

cjones

Founding Member

Jul 20, 2002

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Avondale, AZ

Apr 23, 2004

#2

• Apr 23, 2004

• #2

what's your fuel pressure??

and does fuel pressure remain steady for atleast 60 seconds??

 

Starscream88

New Member

Mar 8, 2003

1,277

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Park Ridge NJ

Apr 23, 2004

#3

• Apr 23, 2004

• #3

I dont have a Fuel pressure gauge, I guess I should get one

 

5.0Droptop

...all those nights we shared, and you're a dude??

Special Agent Mukity-Muck Whats in Charge Round Here

May 15, 2002

1,785

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Indiana

Apr 23, 2004

#4

• Apr 23, 2004

• #4

pressure reg may be stuck open or injectors stuck open

 

Starscream88

New Member

Mar 8, 2003

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Park Ridge NJ

Apr 24, 2004

#5

• Apr 24, 2004

• #5

Would they just do that?
For no apparant reason?


And wouldnt that cause poor running??
The car runs fine, no problems,

This ones a weird one,

 

Starscream88

New Member

Mar 8, 2003

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Park Ridge NJ

Apr 24, 2004

#6

• Apr 24, 2004

• #6

Anyone? Someone must have had this problem before,

 

cjones

Founding Member

Jul 20, 2002

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37

Avondale, AZ

Apr 24, 2004

#7

• Apr 24, 2004

• #7

you could try drying out all the electrical connections. open the connections and spray wd40 or use the is a spray specific for this (i don't remember the name)

but i'd still check the fuel pressure first.

 

Starscream88

New Member

Mar 8, 2003

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Park Ridge NJ

May 3, 2004

#8

• May 3, 2004

• #8

This problem is going on guys
I checked my fuel pressure,
Its 32 at idle, and goes up to 40 psi when I take the vacuum line off the top of the regulator.

I have also Cleaned the Mass air, The O2 sensors, The ACT sensor, the Coolant temp sensor,
I have also taken out and cleaned the fuel rail and injector caps (The injectors have about 1500 miles on them there new)

This problem just happened all of a sudden, For no reason apparantly???

Ive tried everythihng I can think of,
I need some more options or advise,
Surley someone has had this problem?
I have re-set the computer as well,
And all the time, Code 42 Engine rich,
and the check engine light comes on all the time after about 10 mins of driving

I really need help on this as Im stuck,

Thanks

 

I

Idwitheld-1`

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Nov 30, 2003

335

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Portland Oregon

May 3, 2004

#9

• May 3, 2004

• #9

....after 10 minutes of driving...sounds like O2 sensors cause your in closed loop mode by then.

Code 42 is directly indicating HEGO sensors.

 

SilikonBlu

New Member

Apr 20, 2004

23

0

0

May 3, 2004

#10

• May 3, 2004

• #10

I had a '92 Ranger with a similar issue - it was the fuel pressure regulator. After warming up, it would run rich and go through fuel like crazy. I changed a pile of sensors before I stumbled accross a thread about the regulator. After I changed it, problem was gone and mileage returned...

 

cjones

Founding Member

Jul 20, 2002

1,561

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37

Avondale, AZ

May 3, 2004

#11

• May 3, 2004

• #11

you said you've cleaned those sensors. did you test any of them to make sure they work correctly??

 

Starscream88

New Member

Mar 8, 2003

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Park Ridge NJ

May 4, 2004

#12

• May 4, 2004

• #12

ok I have an ajustable Fuel pressur Regulator on the way,
Should be here any day,

When the cars cold it sometimes backfires and bogs down and I have real low power. Then it has a slight backfire then full power again and everythings fine!!

Weird bloody car!

How do you test the sensors BTW to make sure there ok?
And my 02 sensors are fairley new too

Im obviously going to put the new fuel pressure regulator in,
What should I set my Fuel pressure at with my current mods?


Thanks for the help guys. I just really want this problem sorted asap

 

S

slick88GT

Founding Member

Dec 31, 2001

198

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0

Kettering. OH

May 4, 2004

#13

• May 4, 2004

• #13

I have a very similar problem with my 88 that I can't seem to figure out. I'm just subscribing so I can see what fixes yours.

 

Starscream88

New Member

Mar 8, 2003

1,277

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Park Ridge NJ

May 5, 2004

#14

• May 5, 2004

• #14

I got my ajustable fuel pressure regulator today, I'm going to fit it later,

What should I set my Fuel pressure at?

Also should I re-set the CPU afdter installation?

 

T

tim_the_toolman

Founding Member

Nov 30, 2001

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36

Nashville TN

May 5, 2004

#15

• May 5, 2004

• #15

check to see if the blue fusible link in the reats nest of wires near the drivers side firewall is blown. it feeds power to the o2 sensors. my link went and i dint know it and the car was running pig rich for like a year. i never found it until i was doing a complete teardown. you could also just check to see if you have voltage at the sensors.

 

Starscream88

New Member

Mar 8, 2003

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Park Ridge NJ

May 5, 2004

#16

• May 5, 2004

• #16

ok ill try that,

Im gonna go put my fuel pressure gauge on now,

What should I set the Fuel pressure at?

 

QDRHRSE

New Member

Dec 31, 2002

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Palmdale, CA

May 5, 2004

#17

• May 5, 2004

• #17

You can also take the o2 sensors to CrackheadZone....I mean AutoZone and they should be able to test it. They can also tell more specifically what code 42 could be. I think that I had a bad o2 sensor and pulled that code....its been a while.

 

Starscream88

New Member

Mar 8, 2003

1,277

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Park Ridge NJ

May 5, 2004

#18

• May 5, 2004

• #18

No luck with the FPR,

Its still running rich and it stinks!
I feel light headed from it all

But now im pi$$ed as Im running out of ideas,

Code 42 has something to do with the o2's?

I checked haynes and chilton and it dosent mention o2's at all, They seem to have there own code,

And autozoo can test my current o2's?

That might help,
I set my fuel pressure to 34/35,

Ran rich, I set it to 30, Ran like crap so I put it back to 32, Then it ran rich,

I just cant win!

After about 5 to 10 mins of driving the check engine light comes on,

This is really annoying!
So everyones kinda leaning towards bad o2's?

 

Starscream88

New Member

Mar 8, 2003

1,277

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Park Ridge NJ

May 5, 2004

#19

• May 5, 2004

• #19

Im going to have to check the o2 suggestion out,

Ill get a set tomorrow and fingers crossed thats the problem,

I called autozone and they said they cant test o2 sensors?

There a bunch of idiots anyway so I wouldnt trust there word

i set my fuel pressure to 34/35 in the end

What exactly should I have it at for my current setup?

Anyone?

 

T

tim_the_toolman

Founding Member

Nov 30, 2001

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36

Nashville TN

May 6, 2004

#20

• May 6, 2004

• #20

o2' are one of the sensors that help tell the computer what fuel curve to run at. so yes if they are bad it can cause this issue but it may also have something to do with the mass air calibration if you have upgrades your injectors or if you have changed your mass air and it doesnt match your injectors. if your car is not getting enough air that could cause a similiar prob i suppose. maybe you should call someone like alternative performance or some other stang tuning shop for advise