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engine loses power

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Old Jul 11, 2010 | 12:15 PM
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engine loses power

I've noticed that my 97 4.0 Explorer feels like it's running out of gas sometimes after cruising at highway speeds then slowing down. I have a new fuel filter. Fuel pressure was checked and is good. Car just threw a check engine light- code for O2 sensor. Would a bad O2 sensor make a car run real lean causing it to feel like it was running out of gas?
 
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Old Jul 11, 2010 | 05:14 PM
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Originally Posted by pete315
I've noticed that my 97 4.0 Explorer feels like it's running out of gas sometimes after cruising at highway speeds then slowing down. I have a new fuel filter. Fuel pressure was checked and is good. Car just threw a check engine light- code for O2 sensor. Would a bad O2 sensor make a car run real lean causing it to feel like it was running out of gas?

in short, YES

But you need to complete proper diagnosis to find correct cause.. no guessing, costs $$$$
 
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Old Jul 11, 2010 | 08:56 PM
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I code code P0153- bank 2 sensor #1. I'll guess I'll change that O2 sensor. just have to do a search and find out which O2 sensor it is.
 
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Old Jul 11, 2010 | 09:08 PM
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Originally Posted by pete315
I code code P0153- bank 2 sensor #1. I'll guess I'll change that O2 sensor. just have to do a search and find out which O2 sensor it is.
bank 2 = driver side,
sensor 1 = first one downstream of engine...
 
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Old Jul 11, 2010 | 10:08 PM
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I hope this solves my lack of power problem. car had full tune up not too long ago. I don't think I have a vacuum leak because I have a smooth idle. plus the lack of power is intermittent. this P0153 code is the only code I got.
 
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Old Jul 11, 2010 | 11:54 PM
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I would clean the MAF first, cheap, easy and calculates the volume of air entering the engine... ensure no illegal air between MAF and throttle body...

Recall I advised, test first before spending $$$....
 
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Old Jul 12, 2010 | 10:03 AM
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Originally Posted by pete315
I hope this solves my lack of power problem. car had full tune up not too long ago. I don't think I have a vacuum leak because I have a smooth idle. plus the lack of power is intermittent. this P0153 code is the only code I got.
that code alone indicates that there is a 95% chance the sensor is bad......if you have more than 100k on the truck it should be replaced anyways as maintenance
 
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Old Jul 12, 2010 | 04:33 PM
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I just put a new MAF sensor about 2 weeks ago. I got that code. judging by the way these O2 sensors look, I bet they are original. truck has 127,000 on it. That O2 is super tight. my 7/8 O2 socket felt like it was about to strip the sensor. I'm going to bring tuck to friends shop and heat up sensor to loosen. I hope O2 sensor is not seized in there. I was able to turn sensor about 1/4 turn only. After that, it felt real tight.
 
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Old Jul 15, 2010 | 12:00 PM
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Originally Posted by pete315
I just put a new MAF sensor about 2 weeks ago. I got that code. judging by the way these O2 sensors look, I bet they are original. truck has 127,000 on it. That O2 is super tight. my 7/8 O2 socket felt like it was about to strip the sensor. I'm going to bring tuck to friends shop and heat up sensor to loosen. I hope O2 sensor is not seized in their. I was able to turn sensor about 1/4 turn only. After that, it felt real tight.
In my experience with o2 sensors starting to come out then stop is, they usually come out striped, but the threads in the bung on the pipe are usually ok. The treads in the hole are harder than the ones on the sensor. Thats what I have alway run into anyway.
 
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Old Jul 15, 2010 | 03:11 PM
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we used a torch and made them cherry red, then was able to loosen. so far, car seems to be running good.
 
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