running rich

sidl3000

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Apr 4, 2005

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May 23, 2005

#1

• May 23, 2005

• #1

ok so my 88 5.0 has been running rich as hell since I put a new engine in so i take it to a mechanic and he replaces all sorts of things that the computer says is faulty then it still runs like crap so he then tells me to put a new computer in it so I do and it still runs like hell. Whats the deal. Are my injectors maybe bad or what could it be? and when I say rich I meen black smoke rich. I am at a loss I have no idea what to do. The only thing I can think to do next would be to buy a whole new set of injectors.

 

jrichker

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#2

• May 23, 2005

• #2

Dump the codes and see what the computer says is wrong…

Here's the link to dump the computer codes with only a jumper wire or paper clip and the check engine light, or test light or voltmeter. I’ve used it for years, and it works great.

See http://www.troublecodes.net/Ford/
OR
See http://www.mustangworks.com/articles/electronics/eec-iv_codes.html

IF your car is an 86-88 stang, you'll have to use the test lamp or voltmeter method. There is no functional check engine light on the 86-88's except possibly the Cali Mass Air cars.

Codes have different answers if the engine is running from the answers that it has when the engine isn't running. It helps a lot to know if you had the engine running when you ran the test.

Trouble codes are either 2 digit or 3 digit, there are no cars that use both 2 digit codes and 3 digit codes.

For those who are intimidated by all the wires & connections, see http://www.actron.com/product_detail.php?pid=16153 for what a typical hand scanner looks like. Normal retail price is about $30 or so at AutoZone or Walmart.

Or for a nicer scanner see http://www.midwayautosupply.com/detailedproductdescription.asp?3829 – It has a 3 digit LCD display so that you don’t have to count flashes or beeps.. Cost is $33.

 

sidl3000

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May 23, 2005

#3

• May 23, 2005

• #3

how will that help me if the Mechanic has already hooked it up to the computer and fixed every code that came up and it still runs rich?

 

sidl3000

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May 23, 2005

#4

• May 23, 2005

• #4

and one more thing My first thought when it was running rich was that the o2 sensors were bad but the mechanic I took it too said that since I don't have any cats that the o2 sensors didn't function anyways and that i didn't need them. Is this true or was he full of crap?

 

J

jerryD

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Mar 16, 2000

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May 23, 2005

#5

• May 23, 2005

• #5

first is what is a50?

your mechanic is full of crap. you need 02 sensors. check fuel regulator, it might be bad and dumping in too much fuel. have you looked at the codes the that where coming up? maybe your mechanic didn't want to change the 02's cause he is lazy?

 

sidl3000

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May 23, 2005

#6

• May 23, 2005

• #6

sorry a 50 was supposed to be a new engine don't ask how it got to a 50

 

sidl3000

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#7

• May 23, 2005

• #7

its not the fuel pressure regulator because he put a new one on and he said nothing about the computer giving him a code for the 02 sensors. I am going to replace them anyways so that will eliminate another possible prob.

 

sidl3000

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#8

• May 23, 2005

• #8

bump

 

jrichker

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#9

• May 23, 2005

• #9

sidl3000 said:

and one more thing My first thought when it was running rich was that the o2 sensors were bad but the mechanic I took it too said that since I don't have any cats that the o2 sensors didn't function anyways and that i didn't need them. Is this true or was he full of crap?

Click to expand...

With a reply of that quality, it is doubtful that he really fixed much of anything except the empty feeling in his wallet. The O2 sensors are vital part of the engine's control system and function with or without cats.

You had better learn to fix it yourself or the mechanic will OWN your wallet!

Here's a book that will get you started with how the Ford electronic engine control or "computer" works.

Ford Fuel Injection & Electronic Engine Control 1988-1993 by Charles Probst :ISBN 0-8376-0301-3.

It's about $20 from Borders.com see http://www.amazon.com/ . Select boo...very good, and I found it to be very helpful.

 

cjman15

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Apr 15, 2004

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May 23, 2005

#10

• May 23, 2005

• #10

sidl3000 said:

and one more thing My first thought when it was running rich was that the o2 sensors were bad but the mechanic I took it too said that since I don't have any cats that the o2 sensors didn't function anyways and that i didn't need them. Is this true or was he full of crap?

Click to expand...

He's full of SH IT! The o2 sensors are located before the catalytic converters on a stock h-pipe, so what's the different on an O/R pipe... they do tha same job in both--monitor oxygen levels in tha exhaust and adjust the injectors accordingly. I have an O/R pipe and mine's been smoking and running rich for quite some time. I dumped tha codes tha other day and it showed that the o2 sensors weren't reading correctly and were always coming up with a "lean" signal. This tells tha computer to shoot more gas in tha cylinders = less gas mileage and more unburned gas (tha smoke). Bad o2 sensors caust a cat to fail faster than usual because it's forced to burn up more gases from tha motor... if it's running rich, that would be one of tha first things I checked/replaced... makes a world of difference.

 

cjman15

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Apr 15, 2004

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May 23, 2005

#11

• May 23, 2005

• #11

Just use jrichker's links... that's how I learned to dump tha codes using just a paper clip and tha CEL... works amazing

 

sidl3000

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May 23, 2005

#12

• May 23, 2005

• #12

thanks guys. you were right about emptying my wallet. I spent 473$ on that damn car when I took it in and it didn't run any different when I got it back.

 

sidl3000

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May 27, 2005

#13

• May 27, 2005

• #13

well i replaced the 02 sensors and the car still runs like ass . Very very rich. The only sensor left that I can think of is the coolant temperature sensor which would make the computer think the car is constantly cold and dump mucho fuel into it. eveything else has been replaced almost. The map sensor the TPS, the FPR ,ICM,O2 sensors the computer itself BAP. I don't know what else it could be but the CTS