olf fart my advice is to put that cat on a 5gas analyzer check for hc, co and nox; for you have a hot problem. now the readings on a gas analyzer will tell you what area your problem is in. Do a cylinder compression check on the vehicle to make sure that this heat problem is not a burnt valve or something of this nature. Take the radiator out and have it rodded thru by a radiator specialist. The coolant system is only closed lupe system. make sure that the radiator is flowing. but bank 1 and 2 reading lean that sounds like an internal engine problem to me. but a compression check will tell us for sure.

 

I'm not sure anyone on this island has a gas analyzer, but I'll check tomorrow. A leak-down compression test was one of the first things that got checked. So no problems there. And I'm pretty sure the lean condition is due to leaking intake manifold gaskets that we discovered with the smoke test yesterday.

If there is a gas analyzer here, I'll have it checked. Seems that there should be at least one dyno shop on the island and they may have one.

Thanks for the advice.

 

Has the fuel filter been changed? proberly not your problem but I would be changing it due to code P0171,I changed mine today for under $10 so it is worth the effort if it hasn't been done in a while,good luck

 

I just might have at least one bad relay. As I noted in a prior post, since most of the relays are R6J9's, I swapped them from one position to another. And after doing that and driving the car, it appeared to make no difference.

But this morning when I tried to charge off to work - I have a near dead battery. I still have interior lights and you can hear the starter soleniod click, but it appears there is insufficient juice in the battery to actually make it turn over.

Or something else entirely is now wrong.

Someone should be here in about an hour to give me jump start. We'll see how that goes.

 

Man, it just doesn't get any easier. Sorry about all the trouble you're having. I can't tell you how many times I thought it was a big issue and turned out to be something small (or vice versa). Well I hope the relay solves some issues for you. If not, I have one more suggestion; try taking some video if you can, of the problems the car is giving you, sounds/ actions/ reactions and try posting the video. You mentioned how small the island is, does it even have a Jag dealer there? I'm guessing there is probably more experience on this forum with Jags than on your island. Anyway, hope your day gets better.

 

Mr Fart
Interesting development with starting problem if your battery is tip top? Get a copy of the power distribution drawings, there are lugged connections between battery and starter motor that should be checked as xjr guy said, could be the root cause of all the probs.....hopefuly
Bob
ps, passed your posts on

 

How about checking and replacing your air filter. You should also check the MAFS plug to see if it is connected. Along with that you may want to check your crank position sensor and the camshaft timing oil control solenoid. It also seems that the engine coolant temperature sensor will cause a P0171, check it or check the connections.

 

Swick,

No Jag dealer on this island. The nearest is on Oahu and that's a 3 day each way trip that costs about $600. So pretty much out of the question. And if I don't get this solved soon, I'll take your recommendation to video the particulars and post them.

And thanks for the best wishes. It's good to know that there are folks out there that take the time to help me out and care enough to do so. It's appreciated.

 

Appreciate the tip, but one of the first things we did when I brought it to the shop was check fuel pressure and it's right on the mark. But you're right, it probably hasn't been done in lord knows how long, and it's not a lot of $, so just from a maintenance standpoint it's probably a good idea.

Thanks for the tip.

 

Bob,

After I got someone to come give me a jump-start, I took the car to the shop and dropped it off. The tech checked the battery (good), checked the charging system (good), checked to see if anything was draining down the system - and found only the normal 5 minute drain-down after the car is shut off and the interior lights stay on for a few minutes, and said it was only milliampere and entirely insignificant.

In other words, he could find nothing wrong. And the car hasn't shown any further trouble starting - thus far. So I'm scratching my head on this bit of abnormality.

I'm beginning to wonder if the car is possessed.

 

Gus,

At this point I've checked, cleaned, dielectric greased and seated nearly every plug under the bonnet - even the ones between the engine and firewall under the throttle body, and all the relays, including the ECM connections. Also replaced:

1. Thermostat - at least twice (paid for it 3 times)
2. Temperature sensor
3. Knock sensors
4. Camshaft position sensor
5. Throttle body
6. Air filter
7. Just ordered new MAF - waiting for arrival.
8. Had radiator steam cleaned, inside and out.
9. All new coolant system hoses
10. New metal thermostat housing
11. Replaced valve cover gaskets (had a slow leak on one side)
12. Just ordered new intake manifold gaskets.
13. Just ordered new PCV hose (from drivers side valve cover to bottom of throttle body).

But I haven't checked the camshaft timing oil control solenoid, so that will be on the list when it goes back in the shop for the intake manifold gaskets.

Thanks for the recommendation Gus. I'm confident that with all the help I'm getting on this problem from everyone on the forum, that we'll hit on the solution soon.

 

Ok, so in a prior post I related how I had swapped all the R6J9 relays from one position to the next - and the car wouldn't start the following morning.

Then the tech can find nothing wrong with anything. The battery, charging sytem, etc. is all just fine, and there's been no hesitation starting since.

And here's the good part - (and I'm almost afraid to mention it for fear of jinxing myself) the car hasn't gone into Failsafe mode for two days. Even when the lousy temp meter get's above the half mark (which has always been a sure indicator of failsafe in the past) I've been able to shut if off, try a restart (just to see if it would) and it does the System Check and starts right up.

I'm still getting a "Check Engine" light, but that's just the P0171 / P0174 "Fuel Mix too lean", which is no doubt being caused by the intake manifold gasket set leaking so much you can hear it whistling (I've ordered a new set and they should be here this week.)

So it's almost too much to hope that the problem is gone. Especially since it's disappeared for up to a week in recent history and then come back with a vengeance.

So I'm rubbing my luck rabbits foot and considering a blood sacrifice (there are some free range chickens about) to Lugnut, the god of car idiots like me. Or possibly an exorcism is in order if the problem does come back.

I'll keep you all posted, and a heartfelt "Thank you" for all your help and suggestions. Obviously, I need all the help I can get.

 

The P0171 & 174 could be related to the MAFS or your intake has a leak. Check to see if the tube is cracked and or the filter box is not closed properly. If all is good then with a little luck the replacement of the MAFS will take care of it.

 

my PVC hose was the whistling cuplrit when I had identical 'lean' codes; well, either the hose itself, or again...those norma connector o-rings on each end of it. Either way, replacing all three is the way to go, its hard to see cracks in those small, ribbed vacuum lines.

 

So I wonder if you may have a loose connection or a finicky relay? Maybe a short somewhere that you made a good connection with while playing around. I'd say if it works, don't mess with them again (maybe buy a spare relay or two and keep in the glove box). But if the problem arises again, play around with the relays or relay box again. Just a thought. Also, try to keep note on anything you've done different and the ways the car reactec before/ after. It will help diagnos other issues that come up and track down changes in behavior. Glad its working now.

 

Have you performed a vacuum leak test (smoke test) on your car? Do you have that availability?

 

Mr Fart,
Find attached Elec doc
Bob

 

Gus,

I can tell by your posts that you must be busy, but are trying to help regardless. Thanks.

I already performed the smoke test and posted that the intake is leaking and the PCV tube is leaking. The parts have been ordered and I'm just waiting for them to get here to solve that problem. The air intake tube is good and has no leaks. I also posted that ordered a new MAF, so we'll shortly know if that's part of the problem.

 

Swick,

My thoughts exactly. I haven't ordered relays yet, but I intend to order a couple of the common and one each of the few that are unique. It can't possibly hurt and I can keep the old ones as spares.

Thanks

 

Dear BT965,

Very kind of you to provide this information. I really appreciate you becoming involved with my difficulties to the extent that you have.

I've high hopes that this information will help troubleshoot the root problem.

A very sincere Thank You.