posted 02-19-2009 12:37 PM                  

I had similar issues (after getting gas) in that when I goosed it, it would bog down and I had to ease it up to speed. The check engine light came on. Once I got up to speed, I was fine unless I goosed it to pass. I was shifting fine thru all gears. Thru the weekend cruising, and gasing up at about a half tank, it seemed to improve. I don't notice any problems anymore. The light is still on.

With both of us having issues at the same time, I thought bad gas, (another lady with us had no problems after the gas stop tho). I had the code(s) pulled today.

P0171 - Bank 1 system too lean
P0305 - Cyl. 5 misfire

One person told me P0171 was my upstream O2 sensor (side unknown), but that if I got bad gas it could cause both issues, and that they would both be ok in time as I got good gas, or I could try using an injector cleaner to resolve the issues. (I would still have to clear the codes.)
Another person told me that P0171 could be other things besides the O2 sensor, mentioning the coil pack(s). He said as for P0305, I would just need to replace the plugs, but that at 19K miles, I shouldn't need to do that, unless I got bad gas or let it sit alot. I try to drive it at least once or twice a month. Its a 97.
I can change out the plugs if needed, thats no big deal, but I guess the bigger concern is P0171. The manual indicates that is Right rear (or just) (<=== what does "or just" mean?) fuel system lean. A lean air/fuel mixture has been indicated by an abnormally rich correction factor.
This sounds to me like a downstream O2 sensor on the right side, not upstream. (If it is an O2 sensor problem).

posted 02-19-2009 06:08 PM                  

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posted 02-20-2009 08:46 AM                  

Some online forums mentioned the Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor as a possible problem with 'lean' condition. They said especially if you use an air filter that you 'oil', such as K&N filters. They suggest taking out the MAF and cleaning it well. Some said this cured the problem.

Where is the MAF located?

Open to all suggestions - keep 'em coming.

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posted 02-20-2009 03:02 PM                  

Jan - I still couldn't get that TSB to come up. I took some screen shots of what I got. I'll send them to you in an email so you can see what I did to get what I got so you can have them to look at when I call you. Today (and next few days) I am working on getting my fence built (if I can get the laborors to show up).

Ed - I used the trans fluid several times on my old van and it seemed to help some for a short time but I kept having problems. The van may have just been fubar'd.

EdsUp - I looked in the service manual index for MAF and Mass air flow and found nothing there.

I have some Lucas injector cleaner that I got at a car show once. Not to discount using BG44, I may try that, but I already have this. Anyone familiar with it?

I would still like to know more about that TSB before doing anything else.

posted 02-20-2009 03:59 PM                  

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posted 04-07-2009 12:01 AM                  

Once again, I'm seeing a pattern here, filled up yesterday (4-25-09) from about 1/4 tank and after about 115 miles (half a tank), light came back on after a gas stop. It's not just light tripping. Its also intermittant loss of power.

5-1-09 got code(s) pulled. (Check engine light not on when key just turned. - no code - Only on when engine running. - 4 codes.) PO171 (again) and PO171 r/d (same thing they say), and PO174 and PO174 r/d (same thing they say).
PO171 shows:
Definition: Fuel trim bank one condition
Explanation: The PCM uses the oxygen sensor to calculate the air/fuel ratio of the engine. The computer has recognized a rich or lean condition on one engine bank only.
Probable cause:
1. If bank 1 and 2 codes set together suspect fuel pressure or MAF (mass air flow) sensor
2. Oxygen sensor defective
3. Ignition misfire - repair
4. Fuel injector problem
PO174 shows:
Definition: Fuel trim bank two condition
Explanation: The ECM has detected a rich or lean air/fuel ratio condition on engine bank two.
Probable cause:
1. If bank 1 and 2 are set together suspect a fuel pressure condition or MAF sensor fault (note new fuel pump installed Thanksgiving 08)
2. Failed HO2S21
3. Ignition misfire condition
4. Fuel injector problem
5. Engine mechanical condition
Manual says PO174 is Left front fuel system lean. A lean air/fuel mixture has been indicated by an abnormally rich correction factor.
**NOTE - I still have not changed plugs. I changed the oil 4-24-09 and checked the air filter a few months ago and was pretty clean (was changed at about 10K I think).**

posted 05-20-2009 02:29 AM                  

UPDATE: In Branson (6-6 thru 6-13) I had the same problems as B4 this last fuel pump replacement a couple weeks ago. Loss of power, chugging along, sputtering, sounded bad. I wonder if I got a bad pump?
This past Wed. 6-10-09 of my trip to Branson we did a long run with alot of windy roads. No problems. Got back to the hotel and ran upstairs to go to the bathroom and wipe the sweat off me and change shirts and came back down to go to a winery. (In other words, a brief stop.) When I started it up, it was doing the same thing as a couple weeks ago B4 replacing the pump again... chugging, loss of power, sputtering, sounded bad. I couldn't even make it up the hill to leave the hotel, so I took it back down and parked it and rode with someone else. When we got back a couple hrs later, I started it and it seemed fine. Took it to gas up with no problems. I called the local dealer in Branson on Thursday and they said they couldn't even look at the car til the next week sometime and didn't have a fuel pump in stock (I knew that) and wouldn't order any parts til after diagnosis, then 3-4 days to get part(s) in. Friday's run, late in the run, I had some problems if I goosed it to pass or catch up and had to just ease my speed up, otherwise was ok. Saturday morning I gassed up 4 miles away with no issues. Left to come home and drove to my sisters about 90 miles away. No problems. My nephew wanted a ride around the block and it was chugging and sputtering again. Had to get gas and go. I let it run while getting gas and was fine after that. The check engine light came on when we got on the road after gassing up, but it went out after about 100 miles or so, so I never got to get anyone to pull a code on it. I never shut it off getting gas on the way home. I did shut it off, south of centerville (I think it was) at a rest stop for 1 1/2 hrs. I was going to stay in Dallas if I had problems on the way, and get it fixed that week, but didn't want to if I didn't have to because I had the trailer and car was loaded down. I made it thru ok. Since then the car starts and runs ok (no light on) but then I haven't driven it anywhere either. Just in and out of the garage for access to other things. The battery went down after a couple weeks not running, but it jumped and restarted ok.
Replaced battery 7-11-09. Seems to have solved the problem.
Well... on 9-3-09 I took a friend out for a short drive and had same bogging issues again. Light also came on. When I started home, it died and wouldn't start. After sitting for an hour waiting in the rain for a wrecker, it cranked back up and got me home ok without bogging.
On 9-20-09 AutoZone checked the code and it was again P0171.
On 11-12-09 took it to River Oaks Chrysler and they tell me its the filter. They said the pump is low on pressure but is not the problem. I think they just didn't want to do the pump under warranty again. Doesn't matter cause there are no more 97 pumps left.
The dealer has 2 Prowler techs and what they say is a very good electrical tech. All 3 were trying to figure it out. All my electricals checked out good. I kept telling them changing the filter won't increase the pressure the pump is putting out. They kept telling me I need to change the filter, use Sta-bil, and an injector cleaner. They tell me that (per mileage) I only drive it 1900 mile a year and that is not enough to keep the fuel good, thus, its the bad fuel causing all my problems. I told them that I drive the car 20-50 miles every 2 weeks minimum and they still said that's not enough, cause the fuel will go bad faster than that if not stabilized. (I'm not buying that.) After I told them that I do use Sta-bil, they repeat... fuel filter, fuel stabilizer, and injector cleaner.
In short, they acknowledge pump is not putting out the req'd pressure but say something keeps making it go bad, and are blaming it on the fuel, yet they can't provide any proof of that.
They also scraped my bumper on something but denied it.
1-9-10 had to jump dead battery. (Drove it fine 2 or 3 weeks earlier.) Drove 30-40 minutes (w/sta-bil). When I got home, it was dead again. Replaced battery again 3-2-10 (it wouldn't hold a charge - installed 3-3-10). Drove to gas up (w/stabil) and drove 40 minutes on 3-4-10.
3-27-10 - drove to memorial park and back. Started running rough some while there and light came on.
4-10-10 - went to autozone hwy 6 to pull code *light still on* - they just kept getting an error msg but said their coder had been working all day. Went to Autozone Eldridge. When we got back out to pull it, light was off. Pulled code P0171. Fuel trim bank one condition. The PCM uses the O2 sensor to calculate the air/fuel ratio of the engine. The computer has recognised a rich or lean condition on one engine bank only. Causes: 1. If bank one and two codes set together suspect fuel pressure or MAF (Mass Air Flow) sensor. 2. O2 sensor defective. 3. Ignition misfire-repair 4. Fuel injector problem.
4-27-10 - went to gas up and light went off when left.
4-28-10 - took to Spring CJD @ 45S/2920 - 1 hr check said coded P1791 - indicated battery disconnect - (I replaced battery 3-3-10) - prevented him from getting further back history codes - Also pulled P0171 (Right bank lean fuel system) - will take 3 hrs to check everything. Needs to have parts to install when problem found to confirm fixed. Need to take back and leave it. (service advisor was Kevin Lamphier and tech was Joe (Joseph) Philbrick - (was told they have 2 or 3 Prowler techs) Joe said try some dry gas.
5-6-10 - took car to Spring CJD again. Diagnosed bad fuel pump - May 24th is new date for mfg - getting it is about 5 wks out - Also need to replace MAP sensor (driver side manifold plenum) - 2/3 days to get MAP sensor part #5234024AB (pic 14-33, install 14-56/57) - screws in - pump at idle is 32psi - flooring it drops to 22psi
6-23-10 - pump is in. Picked up with apt. to install. No o-ring with pump and they didn't honor apt.
7-14-10 - apt. for install. They didn't honor apt. They had to get o-ring from another dealer down the road.
8-4-10 - Had another apt. they didn't honor and Joe is no longer there. They have no Prowler techs at all anymore. Have Viper tech Jack. Shop foreman is Paul McDade. Svc. mgrs. are Ken or Donny Jones.
9-29-10 - apt. to install. Got installed by Jack. 23,402 miles. Felt like had better pickup. This is the guinnea pig pump from new vendor. Jack said runs rough. Might want to replace plugs and the IAC motor in the throttle body. Remove and clean.
10-2-10 - Drove about 20 miles. Felt good but takes 2 or 3
tries to start. Seems to fluctuate rpm up and down at start up idle. Need to drive more to see how it does. Still haven't pegged it but stepped down on it with good pickup. Anxious to see how it does on longer runs.
10-10-10 - Drove 44.5 miles. Drove good. Long start at
store stop and chugged a little when started - otherwise ran fine. Good pickup. Felt like cruisin' days.
10-30-10 - Drove 27.8 miles. Had problems starting when shutting off. The 3 try key bump method worked fine. Was
bogging down when goosing it. Was slow to respond. Light on when home. Took to pull code 11-1-10.
P0171
Definition: Fuel trim bank 1 condition.
Explanation: The powertrain control module uses the O2 sensor to calculate the air/fuel ratio of the engine. The computer has recognized a rich or lean condition on one engine bank only.
Probable cause:
1. If bank one and two codes set together suspect fuel pressure or MAF (Mass Air Flow) sensor.
2. O2 sensor defective.
3. Ignition misfire-repair.
4. Fuel injector problem.
HAD to use 3 bump method to restart at dealer.