I have a 2003 Eddie Bauer with a little over 88K on it. It is running super rough...bucking and jerking at an idle, etc. When going down the road, it will act horribly like this and then smooth out and then start running rough again. It seems almost like it is a fuel problem. The service engine soon light blinked 60 times and then stayed on solid. I took it to Auto Zone, but the only person there was a young kid who couldn't get a code at first and then when he tried the second time he said it was an O2 sensor. I didn't really get a warm fuzzy feeling that he knew much about cars, because he cleared the code and said run it around a bit and then come back if I had more problems. It ran fine with no problems till I got down below half a tank and then it started acting up again and the SES light came back on. I filled it up but this time it didn't clear up. The fuel filter has never been changed on it. And, it started after I filled up the tank and then dumped fuel injector cleaner in it. Oh yeah, it seems to act worse when it is super cold outside. Please help. I want to make sure that you guys think it is just the O2 sensor and nothing else. Thanks, Kathy

 

I forgot to mention earlier that it is also starting to make a popping noise when I shut it off. Sounds almost like when a metal can gets hot in the summer and pops.

 

Our 05 did this, and it was a faulty fuel injector. There is a TSB on the issue. Check to see if yours if included in the TSB.

 

No TSB for mine. Would a faulty injector cause the O2 sensor to kick out a code?

 

Yes, because the injector was stuck open and the cat was flooded with unburnt fuel.

 

ok, Since my husband is not here and i away on business, should I try running injector cleaner through it?

 

You should replace any faulty injector and also quite possible the already damaged Oxygen Sensor.

Some shops do have a machine where they run cleaner through injectors in an attempt to clean them. This "cleaning service" is not always rewarding except to the mechanics pocket.

Good Luck.

 

How do we know which injector is faulty? Wouldn't it throw a code for a faulty injector?

 

No, injectors do not throw codes(yet). You will have to have the fuel injectors tested. There is a small piece of equipment that is used along with a fuel pressure gauge and that is how they usually test them. One thing that should be tested is the fuel injector wiring. Noid lights are used for that. That rules out wiring/PCM problems then. Well, that is how I was trained. Find a reputable shop/mechanic that you trust and they should be able to test them. They will do one at a time and should find it. There will be a good chance they will recommend replacing all 8 of them since it has to be taken apart anyway. That is a good idea to replace all 8 since they are matched(new).

 

Just thought I would update you guys....It ended up having a misfire on cyl 2 due to a bad coil pack. It still kicks out the code for an o2 sensor, but runs smooth again.