DPFE Removal
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DPFE Removal
Okay i decided to tackle the DPFE sensor since i am sick and tired of looking at the damned CEL. So I open up my Haynes manual and it says this sensor is located on the drivers side valve cover....WRONG!
Mine is located at the top of the plenum (upper intake) facing the rear of the truck...WHO THE HELL DESIGNED THIS THING!?!
Its gonna be a royal pita to get out!
Anyone got any tips or tricks?
Mine is located at the top of the plenum (upper intake) facing the rear of the truck...WHO THE HELL DESIGNED THIS THING!?!
Its gonna be a royal pita to get out!
Anyone got any tips or tricks?
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The truck is a 2001 Explorer XLT with the 5.0L V8
So far the engine doesnt seem to have much coverage in the Haynes manual.
I returned the DPFE sensor to AutoZone and decided to call the dealership tomorrow...Short of removing the upper intake I would bet its next to impossible to get the sensor off. There is a metal bracket that bolts on under the sensor...this metal bracket all but covers one of the bolts that needs to be removed...plus with the intake on there is cramped minimal space to work with.
And I know for a fact the sensor I am looking at/for is the DPFE sensor. Before I owned this truck I had a 1983 Mercury Grand Marquis with the 5.0L 302 in it. So I know my way around this engine for the most part. I all but replaced the motor in the 83 piece by piece.
So far the engine doesnt seem to have much coverage in the Haynes manual.
I returned the DPFE sensor to AutoZone and decided to call the dealership tomorrow...Short of removing the upper intake I would bet its next to impossible to get the sensor off. There is a metal bracket that bolts on under the sensor...this metal bracket all but covers one of the bolts that needs to be removed...plus with the intake on there is cramped minimal space to work with.
And I know for a fact the sensor I am looking at/for is the DPFE sensor. Before I owned this truck I had a 1983 Mercury Grand Marquis with the 5.0L 302 in it. So I know my way around this engine for the most part. I all but replaced the motor in the 83 piece by piece.
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Just talked to the dealer...here is what he told me.
"Most of the time the code readers are wrong and I technically don't even want to replace this for you"
The part is $92.11
and the labor is roughly $80.00/hr
The part at AutoZone is $52.00.
Seems very rude to me to tell the customer he doesn't even want to attempt the work for me. He was thrown because I knew what I was talking about when I called him.
Does the upper plenum have to come off? Anyone?
"Most of the time the code readers are wrong and I technically don't even want to replace this for you"
The part is $92.11
and the labor is roughly $80.00/hr
The part at AutoZone is $52.00.
Seems very rude to me to tell the customer he doesn't even want to attempt the work for me. He was thrown because I knew what I was talking about when I called him.
Does the upper plenum have to come off? Anyone?
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Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Bucks County, PA
Have '02 Explorer DPFE. went bad, common problem. Went to the dealer tto have it replaced under the DPFE extended warranty, 5 years / 60k miles. They basically told me the same thing and said it would costs $169.99 for the diagnotics it the DPFE wasn't bad. I instructed them to do it, they found the same code and replaced the DPFE at no cost. The code readers are not wrong, the simply display the code the computer has stored due to the fault that was detected. Sounds like they just want to sell you the diagnostic service. Are you under the 60,000 miles?
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Yes i am at 56,000 miles but the truck is 01...which makes it 5 years old. So far not one single person at 3 dealerships has said anything about this free replacement thing, and I keep bringing it up.
I talked to a buddy who works closely with ford and he said that most of the DPFE issues where they issued TSBs were for the 4.6L.
Oh well I got an appointment in the morning to have it replaced. She said it would be an hour and would cost $167.00.
Yeah I don't care if the light doesn't go off (but I think it will) I don't want the hose to break and start burning a hole in my intake. The sensor looks corroded and crusty so I would rather have a new one.
I talked to a buddy who works closely with ford and he said that most of the DPFE issues where they issued TSBs were for the 4.6L.
Oh well I got an appointment in the morning to have it replaced. She said it would be an hour and would cost $167.00.
Yeah I don't care if the light doesn't go off (but I think it will) I don't want the hose to break and start burning a hole in my intake. The sensor looks corroded and crusty so I would rather have a new one.
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From: Phoenix
it's always fun going to dealerships armed with information. Gotta love the internet!
I'm not specifically familiar with your issue or hpw the code reader interprets info to say "DPFE bad". Maybe this is exactly true. Maybe it is just a symptom of something else.
On my explorer, I got a left bank lean code but in fact the left side was being run rich as the plugs were all black. I changed the O2 sensor on that side and now all is good. With the bad O2 sensor, PCM thought left was lean so it gave it more gas and made it rich instead. Testor never told me "O2 sensor bad".
So I guess it comes down to old fashion troubleshooting, looking at all the clues, asking why 5 or more times until you're at the root cause.
For your issue - I'd scour the internet and find that TSB for free replacement and bring that to the dealer tomorrow. He's going to love you.
I'm not specifically familiar with your issue or hpw the code reader interprets info to say "DPFE bad". Maybe this is exactly true. Maybe it is just a symptom of something else.
On my explorer, I got a left bank lean code but in fact the left side was being run rich as the plugs were all black. I changed the O2 sensor on that side and now all is good. With the bad O2 sensor, PCM thought left was lean so it gave it more gas and made it rich instead. Testor never told me "O2 sensor bad".
So I guess it comes down to old fashion troubleshooting, looking at all the clues, asking why 5 or more times until you're at the root cause.
For your issue - I'd scour the internet and find that TSB for free replacement and bring that to the dealer tomorrow. He's going to love you.
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Okay well the specific code it gave me was "EGR Flow Insufficient"...which could be a host of things...of which the DPFE is a likely cause and the cheapest replacement part.
The dealer I am taking it too is not the dealer of the rude guy...I won't be dealing with them any more.
Plus when and if the DPFE does go bad it starts causing a host of other symptoms...bucking acceleration, uneasy idle.
And if its the rubber hose that is broken on it, it could potentially be spraying hto exhaust gasses right on my intake manifold...i have read several accounts of this ruining the intake by burning a hole in it.
The dealer I am taking it too is not the dealer of the rude guy...I won't be dealing with them any more.
Plus when and if the DPFE does go bad it starts causing a host of other symptoms...bucking acceleration, uneasy idle.
And if its the rubber hose that is broken on it, it could potentially be spraying hto exhaust gasses right on my intake manifold...i have read several accounts of this ruining the intake by burning a hole in it.
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Okay so I just got back from the Ford dealer:
The service writer (a very attractive blonde woman) takes my truck to the service bay.
20 minutes later she walks into the waiting lounge to tell me that she had the tech run diagnositcs to make sure the DPFE was in fact the problem. It was. So they were almost done fixing it.
Truck drives like its brand new now...no more bucking, no more ****ty gas mileage, no more CEL.
Oh yeah $172.90 out the door fixed.
The service writer (a very attractive blonde woman) takes my truck to the service bay.
20 minutes later she walks into the waiting lounge to tell me that she had the tech run diagnositcs to make sure the DPFE was in fact the problem. It was. So they were almost done fixing it.
Truck drives like its brand new now...no more bucking, no more ****ty gas mileage, no more CEL.
Oh yeah $172.90 out the door fixed.
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