Had my 98 in to the dealer this week for a se light check. I had already found the broken pcv pipe two weeks ago but it didn't fix the light. Dealer replaced the DPFE sensor and updated the computer. It went from 14 -15 mpg on the hwy up to 18mpg. I have taken a 150 mile trip and a 40 mile trip this weekend and averaged 18 on both drives.

 

wow, i'd like to get that kind of improvement. what's the DPFE sensor? and do you know what they did in terms of updating the computer,

thanks
alex

 

The DPFE sensor is the controler for the egr if I understand corectly. I have
193,000 miles on my 98 and the sensor was the origional. Dealer said new one was improved version, also said the parts house version (autozone, napa,etc.) was the original design. While the tech had his computer attached he did a search and found there had been a update for the computer on the truck. He said it was basically like updating your home computer, except you have to pay ford to get it. Of course they say its included when they do the trouble scan.

 

Mapman, did you have a issue with OIL BURNING with the PCV problem ?? Milage improved ?? Were there any other problems with your truck with this problem, like bad idle, low power ?? PLEASE let me know.

 

just called the dealer and was told that they only replace the dpfe sensor and/or flash the computer when there is an issue pertaining to said sensor and/or comp software...he actually said flashing the computer is illegal ($10K fine - it's messing with the emissions stuff) if done for no know reason.

oh well, i guess i'll just keep the RPMs under 2 - that's save gas!

 

That is utter and complete BS!!! If there is an updated flash available for your vehicle, how could it possibly be illegal? My SVT Focus had a few problems with the factory tune over the years, like low/high/rough idle, stalling, cold-start issues, etc... I had my car flashed everytime an update came out, for no other reason than there was a new tune available. No specific problems were cited, I just knew that there was a new tune available, so I went down and told them I wanted it. And it was all covered under warranty. Now, perhaps the justification was the numerous TSB's regarding known issues with 02-03 SVT Foci, but I never had to prove that I had any of these symptoms. Either way, for them to tell you it's illegal is just a way for him to keep you out of his dealership if he isn't gonna make any money off of you!

Do this, look up the TSB's and find one that involves the DPFE and is cured by a new updated flash, memorize the symptoms and go down to the dealership and bug the crap out of them about it. They know better than anyone that the easiest way to get rid of you is to flash the computer, slap a sticker under your hood and tell you it's fixed.

I guess I am just stubborn, because I don't leave a dealership until I get what I think I deserve, especially warranty issues, within reason. I am very reasonable, but I can be a real a$$ if they want to start giving me a line of crap, and they hate that when other customers are around! The problem is they assume since you don't work at a dealership, how could you possibly know anything about it? I have taught the Service Writer's and their Service Mgr's more about my car than they will ever need to know, and they hate that too!

Rant over!

 

wow, rather adament there onespeed....it didn't occur to me that the dude was just lying. i've got a '97 that ain't under warranty so if i do go in with your symptom idea (good idea by the way) i'll be paying outta pocket. so, i guess i'll just let it go for now, thanks for the info though.

 

Yeah, sorry about the rant. I just hate it when I have been buying Ford for over a decade, 7 vehicles to be exact, and they treat you like a king when your buying and a dirtbag when you bring it in with a problem. All the problems I had with my Focus made me adopt this attitude I guess. Luckily I had the ace in the hole with the SVT 1-800 number, and they usually took care of the dealership in one call. I had to explain to the service manager how the SVT program worked, as in automatic rental car, the service tech as well as the manager are supposed to give a personal call detailing their diagnosis and plan of action before any work starts, and your car will be washed and vacuumed upon delivery after service, and I'm the idiot. It sure was a big selling point at the front of the dealership, but the news didn't make it out back I guess. But my take is this, I am barely a "thousandaire" and Ford is a Multi-Billion dollar company because of people like you and I buying it's products and waving it's flag, yet their service departments are sure quick to deny their responsibility to fix things that are broken, the first time, without making the customer feel like a burden or, worse yet, and idiot. I could go on and on, but like i said, they hate it when I come in, but I usually get what I want.

 

With the price of gas, maybe it's wort a try (talk them to death to do the flash).

I do around 13mpg, even when I have everything replaced at about the same time at one time (new plugs, K&N replacement air filter, new pcv valve, new fuel filter, synth motor oil). I even checked the resistance of each coil (5.4) and replace the boots (well, four out of eight since that's all I can find at the time I was doing it). Having been driving mid-size cars before buying a truck, my normal drive is a cruise at 75mph on highways, that put the tach at about 2300 rpm. I remember doing 65 and I did get a better milage (around 16 mpg) but it doesn't feel normal, and I don't seem to go with the traffic flow, causing me to be more tense driving.

I think another factor to my poor milage is the fact that my place of work is too near my house, about 7 miles. My guess is that the engine doesn't get a chance to reach the optimum working temperature as described in the manual.

I'll try to call around the dealerships in the area and find out if they'll do it and for how much.

Will post the result. - Orlee

 

AMM888
I had a stopped up DPFE sensor which was the initial cause for the visit. The only symptom's the truck showed was the se light and a slight stumble when running at slow speeds (34 - 40 mph) and not under load. I agree with several of the last post refering to the computer update, i use 2 local ford dealers and they both recomended the computer update. As far as the oil burning, i usually add half quart of oil to 4,000 mile oil change. I feel like this is good considering the 193,000 miles. I use 5-30 and 10-30 Mobil and see no real difference.

 

so...i just called a different ford dealer in the area and this time i was told i could have the computer updated, it'll just cost me $79. he also said that the dpfe sensor can only be replaced if it's gone bad. is there some other emissions-control computer that the first guy i talked to may have been referring to when he said i can't have it flashed for no reason?

also....what do you guys think - is it worth the $79 bucks to get the computer update?

 

As far as another computer that can be "flashed" and involving emissions, I can't imagine what he'd be talking about.

Is it worth the $79 to get a reflash? Depends on what you're after. If it's simply better gas milage and the latest flash is showing to get better gas milage across the board, then yes, I'd say it was worth it. Just run the numbers, if you pick up 1 MPG, then it would pay for itself in roughly 16 tanks of gas. If you fill up once a week or more I'd say go for it. The flash was updated for a reason, so it may/should fix other problems that you have seen, and some that maybe you have not. Your truck may be running sub-par but still running good enough not to notice, it's hard to say unless you have a glaring issue with idle speed, cold-start issues, etc. A new tune is usually the result of a problem that produces a TSB and becomes part of the troubleshooting process. Referring back to my Focus, there were a lot of problems with fuel delivery due to the different heads used on the SVT vs the ZX3, causing eratic idle, high idle on cold start (would rev up to 5K for several minutes in the morning, took a little finess to get to work if you were running late). These new tunes would fix one problem and then cause another, which is why the SCT and Diablo tuners became so popular for this car. Custom tuners were able to work wonders where the Ford techs could not, all while finding a little more usuable power.

If you are under warranty it'd be a no-brainer. If you are paying for it every time, I'd suggest just getting a programable tuner and a custom tune, giving you alot more options. If you are not wanting all that comes with a custom tune, I'd say make sure the new tune isn't fixing problems at the expense of creating new problems, although with this truck I'd doubt they have too many problems with the tune to begin with.

 

B.S. get a different dealer.