So i had that problem with igniting my car and rough/low idleing causing my car to turn off every now and then, i first happened to me about 7 months ago but never realli bothered untill yesterday where both Check engine light and tcs lights lit up for a good hour untill i restarted my car and it was fione. Then i took it to pep boys today and theyu charged me 93 dollars for the damn test. Turns out that the code is P0171, Can someone tell me what that is? Usual Cause? Cure?

Thanks to ya folks in advance.

 

anyone please? how come no one likes to give me replies back

 

i did a search and came up with this

P0171
45
System Too Lean

no idea what that means

 

Not sure if this is what you're looking for but in the Helms catalog, the "DTC P0171" says "Fuel System Too Lean" I have no clue what that means as I know nothing about fixing cars. Sorry I can't be of more help.

 

it means you aren't getting enough fuel.

 

YAY replies... thanks for the help...

phipark. what is wrong and what do i ave to fix to have my car working properly again?>

 

Take it to the dealer or a garage.

 

ok thnx, one last question... what is the average cost on a problem like that? i rather have a clue on the pricing b4 i get jerked when i bring it somewhere

 

Sorry, can't help you with what it might cost.

"Fuel System Too Lean" can actually mean two things, not just you're not getting enough fuel. It can also mean you're getting too much air, maybe due to some kind of air/vacuum leak. A third possiblility is a sensor is bad and is incorrectly setting the code you are seeing. The only way to know is for the dealer/garage to do more diagnostics.

 

thnks for ur help

 

http://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_cod...gen-sensor.php

had the same problem on my es300.

i have a k&n filter, and this says it could be the cause

sorry it's a year later

 

Yeah, and I still feel sorry for him for going to Pep Boys and paying $93 to scan a code when autozone does it free.

 

, you can get one for $60

 

i went to autozone today and got the error scanned and erased for free!!!!!!

 

I read most the thread related to P0171 but didn't really see any quick fixes. Try to stay out from the stealers!

My 2003 TL drives normal and gas mileage is about 26. Just got the CEL and TCS light come on and P0171(no other code). Someone told me the MAP may be dirty, where is the MAP on my TL? Any help is appreciated.

 

You can clean the Throttle Body
and the TL is NOT affected badly by the K&N, no wire to get oil on!

Cleaning the throttle plate- which gets oily residue from the PCV on it, is part of Seafoam cleaning of the intake system- carb cleaner spray works fine too, we dont need the extra fancy TB cleaner spray

The EGR ports in the intake manifold are well known to plug about every 75k miles
easy DIY, other threads current on the subject,
congrats on search useage to find this old thread!!

 

Could be MAF, O2 sensor, or vacuum leak.

 

I reseted the ECU and the P0171 didn't come back for almost a full tank. The low gas warning just come on along with CEL and TCS. I found out there is no MAF in my 2003 TL, there is an IAT, should I clear that? I am going for a new tank of gas today and see if that fix the problem.

 

have you tried seafoam in the gas and the intake manifold vac port?
and cleaning the TB plate?
More gas without cleaner isnt going to fix anything
Use 1, 16 can of seafoam in 1/2 tank of gas- thats 2oz per gal for cleaning doseage
Use 1, 16 oz seafoam in master vac port, and carb cleaner works on the TB plate

get everything clean and see whats left to deal with

 

should have been MAP.

How many miles on the car? Lots of things make a car run smooth. Do you only notice it during idle or all speeds?

Anyhow:

+1 on the Seafoarm, MAP, Primary O2, Cleaning

Also possibly stuck open egr valve, and possibly dirty IACV or pvc.

Do easy stuff (and low cost) first: seafoam, clean pvc and clean iacv. Then depending how much $$ you have, the free stuff next: clean TB, egr ports. Then the cost items next....

 

Lean can be caused by a few things. You may have a o2 thats reading faulty. You may have fuel injectors that are plugged, or valves that need adjusting. I would do the easy cheaper things first like fuel treatment of some sort like seafoam to clean the valves and injectors.

 

Thanks you guys for all your recommendations? The CEL P0171 just keep coming back. Here is what I felt. It seems when the car is running smooth, the CEL is coming back on? When the car hesitate a little, it take days before the CEL come on?

The problem I have is I am afraid to even do the seafoam, I am just not good with mechanical stuff, basically a software guy

My theory is my O2 censor and vacuum may be good, since it should consistently bring up the CEL. Also, I got only one code (P0171). So I guess all I need is to get the car clear? Can anyone in Central Jersey help me? Thanks in advance!!

 

the seafoam diy is simple- read the first few and last few pages of it, it was changed midway to more effective main vac port

If you can drive the car and add you own gasoline, you can seafoam without fear

Or look in the Off Topic link- Meets section for ziners near you

a software person should understand that codes are clues- not diagnosis-
and that the experts advice in fixes should be followed without interpretation

 

Thanks 01tl4tl. I will do the seafoam and follow all the advices. Will post when the P0171 is gone.

 

I just got more code this time no P0171, instead I got 304, 305, 306 then 300. After reading the forum, looks like is could be one of my coil pack. My car is a 03 TL with just 56K miles. So I should start with coil pack first then seafoam?

 

Two scenarios:

1) you spark plugs are now junked up and you need to replace them or

2) I'm having second thoughts on this seafoam stuff. Newperson had a similar experience. His theory was that it possibly cleared up the fuel filter a bit and send gunk to the injectors now partially clogging. Not sure this is significant but injectors 4, 5, and 6 are on the same fuel rail.

Pick your poison. #1 is much easier to do, then if that doesn't fix it you might have to do #2.

 

Thanks silver! Here is what I did, don't know that have anything to cause my current situation.

My car was cranking a little slow, but otherwise everything is running like brand new. So I put in some prestone fuel injector cleaner like a month ago. I got the P0171 about 2 weeks ago(right after the gas station left the gas cap on the fuel door). I went over to Autozone and the guys there were so nice for read the code for free, so I brought an STP fuel injector cleaner and pour it into the gas tank. Thinking it can't hurt. So your scenario #2 may be the cause of my problem. So now, how do I clearn my fuel injector? Is seafoam any different then the STP stuff? I read newperson's thread extensively myself, that's why I don't want to do more which may cause other issues.

Could also a bad coil pack cause then P0171, 304, 305,306, 300? The car is a little rough idling and hastiaten on occasion. Thanks guys.

 

A bad coil pack i would not image cause a p0171. Instead of being lean it would run rich from all the unburnt fuel, or more likely cause a misfire.

A bad coil pack can cause p304, 305, 306, 300 but the fact you messed with the fuel treatments I have my money on the injectors. Clogged injectors can cause a p0171 also.

I suppose you can do a few more seafoam treatments (it's stronger than stp stuff) in hopes it clears out the injectors. Worst case it sends (fuel filter) gung to your other injectors. A better option, would be not to treat the entire tank w/ seafoam but instead disconnect the fuel line and pipe it in *after* the fuel filter. The fuel filter is in the gas tank. There is a banjo bolt, I think it's called, where you might be able to pump injector cleaner for rigourous cleaning. Something like this maybe: http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/otc7448.html Or have a shop do it.

BTW, Do you use cheap gas? If so then maybe you did have a lot of gunk in the fuel filter....

 

Is the car still cranking slow? Maybe just sub zero temps or weak battery.

 

The car crank good now since I put prestone fuel injector in about a month ago. The battery was put in a few months back, so the temps(garage) and the battery shouldn't be the problem.

I totally agree with you silver about the gunks in the fuel line etc . I called the dealer, they want $250 for fuel injector cleaning. We have a Mr. good lube here, they do it for like $50. According to Mr. good lube, they do just what you mention, they disconnect the fuel line and pump stuff in there.

 

$50 sounds good. Maybe too good. Just watch them and make sure they do some disconnecting near the driver side of the engine. And plumb the cleaning contraption in there. They should also look for the fuel pump fuse and disconnect that.

Good luck and keep your fingers crossed.

 

the quickie shop is figuring the TL is like most cars- but as usual- its not!
the dealer is way overpriced- most are 150 and do almost as good a job as we can DIY with seafoam

The fuel filter is actually a sock over the inlet pickup tube in the tank, not cleanable
by normal means and not harmed by foaming the gas
Our megamod fsttyms1 has been doing this for over 270k miles on his TL with no ill effects,, and did an internal inspection at 200k miles-like new inside the cylinders

By using a good fuel cleaner such as redline SI-1, or seafoam or bg44 for gas- all used at `cleaning doseage` or max doseage- example 2 oz per gal of gas is seafoam cleaning dose or 1 can to 1/2 tank in the TL- that should get the sock-rails and injectors clean
Getting the valves good and clean edges to seal better, and the piston tops so it sparks better-with vac port method- is important to overall outcome

1st timers to seafoam should recheck the DIY last few pages and use the main vac port at TB inlet to manifold- repeat after 1 month 1500 miles for max effect

You dont over-clean the tank filter and throw the crud at the injectors-
It is possible you need do more treatment, and need the intake vac manifold method to blast the pistons and valves clean

If its got a weak battery that can cause many other problems!
If it has a weak coil- that will make strange codes- bad idle and loss of fuel mileage
Coils are easily damaged during plug change and fail after

EGR plugged ports in the intake manifold will also cause poor idle
Dirty TB plate in the TB will make problems- use carb cleaner spray or seafoam aerosol- Deep Creep for that

Clean everything really good then recheck it- you need a baseline of clean
Pull a few/all the spark plugs and check for fouling = black wet, oil-fuel unburnt residue on 1 plug while the others are a nice tan-grey color,,thats a bad coil

If you find a bad coil or plug- seafoam the intake and gas 1 can each to rid the combustion byproduct crud buildup

Codes Are CLUES not Diagnosis- never to be taken at face value
So you have a new battery- was it really bad condition before replaced?
Has it been rechecked now- to be sure the battery is a good unit- the alternator and wires are in good condition..
battery stored electricity makes the car run
Have you reset the ECU?
Just going thru a checklist for things that can go wrong- may not apply to all your cars

 

Agree 100%

 

1000% accurate diagnose. After a few P0171 then one P0300, P0304, 305, 306. My car now seems to idle and run better, I can't said is back to 100%. No CEL for the last two days. The fuel economy seems to be normal at about 26MPG combine. I think the fuel treatment stuff is kicking in but not cleaning my system 100%. So I guess is seafoam time. I will report my progress.

 

seafoam is an excellent cleaner in the gas tank and injectors at 2oz per gallon of gas,
thats 1 can per half tank

redline SI-1 is another product I use in my car for fuel injector cleaning

 

slam- hows the spark plugs?
if more than 60-70k miles on them- after all the treatments are run thru,
then install a fresh set of NGK Iridium IX- 50 bucks for 6 at parts stores everywhere

 

Man I get nowhere near 26MPG. I get about 18-19 MPG at about 60/40 (city/hwy).

 

thats what you get for running a twin turbo with an S/C Gfaze!
If you already removed that stuff- try seafoam and an intake cleaning!!

Then place a small block of 2x4 wood underneath the gas pedal~
that will bring the mileage back up!!

 

I just want to document this here for future. My Code start with P0171 for a while, then P304,305,306,300 one time in the last two weeks. I got P0171 again two days ago and today I got P301, 304, 305, 300. What do you guys think?

 

based on what you have looked up on google for the codes, and whats been written on here, where have you begun the diagnosis?

need year and mileage to start with for us to help!
then current symptoms- length of symptoms, last work done on the car, exactly whats its doing now- what makes it happen- etc

Just because a part is new or 6 months does not mean its good-always retest and always suspect the last part installed
Parts stores in the USA will test charging system-battery-alt-starter draw for free

The plugs are ready for replacement after 60-70k miles and an induction cleaning with seafoam- bg- or wynns or dealer or...
then install NGK Iridium IX