• Welcome to the Contour Enthusiasts Group, the best resource for the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique.

    You can register to join the community.

P0171 Oxygen sensor?

BillHoo

CEG'er
Joined
Dec 19, 2015
Messages
51
Location
vienna, va
2000 Ford Contour Bi-Fuel. I have a code P0171 and the fuel economy is horrible. Have had people searching for vaccuum leaks multiple times and never really nailed it. Is it time to change the O2 Sensor?

I just removed the heat shield and I've let some Seafoam Deep Creep on the sensor to penetrate into the threads.

Also have a U1262 code. I think that is probably from my failing CompuValve. I think I have a precudre printed up somewhere to do a reset.

The goal is to get this car to pass emissions inspection. Otherwise, I'm donating to Cars for Vets for the tax write-off.
 
yes P0171 can be an indication of a bad O2 sensor. How old is it and how many miles? If you are certain there are no vacuum leaks then its most likely worth changing the sensor.
 
It's a 2000 Contour - so maybe 17 years old and over 146K miles. I already picked up a sensor.

The dealer claimed to fix the vaccuum leaks, a third party mechanic wouldn't/couldn't get the O2 sensor out for risk of damaging it. Getting that heat shield off was a real pain, but now that the sensor is exposed, I might be able to get at it with a wrench.
 
O2 sensors have about a 60K mile useful life, less if the engine is burning oil, and as they age, they start switching more slowly and report lean back to the ECU, so the ECU keeps adding fuel pretty much across the board, and fuel economy goes in the shi**er.
 
I'm hoping this O2 sensor (top, at the manifold) does the trick. I dread having to find and wrestle the one under the car somewhere.

Just need to get this car to pass for another year or two....
 
Yeah, you want to replace the upstream (pre-cat) sensor first, that's the one that the ECU uses to monitor and maintain engine air/fuel ratio. The post cat O2 sensor is used to monitor the cat performance, it wouldn't hurt to replace that one as well, but they tend to last a lot longer as they're further from the high temps of the engine exhaust gas. The post-cat sensor is usually pretty easy to find, but you will have to go under the car.
 
60K!!?? I think I have at least one car with the same O2 sensor for over 240K miles! (2000 Nissan Altima) I think I changed it at 250K miles for a check engine light years ago.
 
60-75K used to be the recommended change duration but it's to sell parts of course. If the car is kept in good shape tune wise they can go easily to 150K+, I have 3 doing over that right now. They of course might get a bit better mileage with new sensors but they seem to run fine.
 
I just tried to remove the sensor last night and used one of those cheap harbor freight O2 sensor sockets. I rounded off the edges a little and decided to stop. I think I'l save this toward the weekend. I have a propane torch, someone said I might get away with heating it for a good 10 minutes, then give it a good soaking with Seafoam Deep Creep and PBBlaster and let it cool down for a day.

I'll ditch the HF O2 sensor tool and try to get a 7/8 box wrench on it and tap it with a hammer. Suprisingly, I do not see any rust on the sensor.

If that don't work, maybe vice grips and a hammer?
 
I got a 22 MM deep impact socket (6 point), the 7/8 deep socket at Home Depot was a 12 point (didn't want that!). Hit it with PB Blaster the night before, and the night before that.

It came off with moderate force. I noticed a curl of metal coming off the sensor as it twisted out of the manifold bung.

I inspected the sensor and the thread was intact, but the edges were shaved off.

I then tried to twist the new one in. It won't go in!!!!! @#$@Q$#Q!

The threads in the bung appear to be uniform and undamaged, but rusty.

The threads on the old O2 sensor are shiny as they have had metal shaved off them. Possible the original installer of the O2 sensor had cross-threaded it and just forced it in there. Or the manifold threads are wonky.

I read somewhere to put the new sensor in the freezer and run the engine for a while - theory is to get the sensor to contract and the manifold hole to expand. I would think the manifold metal with expand into the hole, but I figured I'd give it a shot.

Froze the O2 sensor in my freezer overnight and ran the engine tonight for ten minutes - it was pretty hot and hard to maneuver in there!

No success. Still just kinda spins without catching. I tried brushing out the manifold hole/socket with a small brass brush. Still no success.

Wondering if I should try spinning a little sandpaper in the hole and around the O2 sensor? Sure, I'll rub off all the anti-seize on the threads, but I don't care. I just plan to run this car for another two years if possible before getting rid of it.

Another option is to ask around and see if anyone has an O2 sensor tap to expand the hole a bit. I have access to the auto hobby shop at Fort Belvoir. Maybe see if they have one.

btw. the old sensor goes back in easily. I was able to turn it in by hand and then just tightened a little bit the HF O2 sensor tool.
 
I'm going to the auto parts store at lunch to pick up a Oxygen Sensor Thread Chaser. Supposed to work well on cleaning out the threads and helping to realign them. Will do that before using a tap.
 
Find one of these. Absolutely amazing.
The we purchased specifically had Cougar/Contour listed on it.
That Autozone O2 sensor wrench is pretty cool, never seen one of those before, and it even specifically mentions hard to reach sensors on Contours.

I have one of the split sockets, and they work OK unless a sensor is really tight, then they tend to spread if you have to apply a lot of torque to break the sensor loose. I think I ended up using a box wrench to get the Contour's rear upstream sensor loose, and it was a real struggle.

For that thread chaser, make sure you use lubricant on it, oil or anti-seize, and put some anti-seize on the new sensor's threads so it will be less likely to seize in place. Don't get anti-seize on the sensor itself, it often contains some Lead which will poison the sensor, just coat the threads to be nice to the poor bastard who owns the car after you.
 
OK. I just got back from Bermuda and the Oxygen Sensor Thread chaser tool arrived in the mail too!

I had the old O2 sensor in the bung and gave it a couple turns to tighten more, then loosened it.

I took he thread chaser and sprayed some liquid wrench chain oil on it - I used this because I don't have too much use for it and figured this is a good application for it.

Screwed the tool/bolt in by hand and used a rachet to tighten a few turns, then unscrew a few turns. Sprayed more lube, tightened and loosend. Repeating the process until the bolt was in as far as I could take it. Lubing all the way.

then I unscrewed and removed it.

Turned the new O2 sensor in by hand - It goes in snugly!

Used the cheap harbor freight offset O2 sensor tool on it and used my breaker bar to tighten it. Done!

Couldn't find my bluetooth code scanner, so went down to Advance Auto parts where I could get it read for free.

P0171, is still there, but now joined by a P0135 codes.

Looked up P0135 and got. I think the P0135 code was caused by driving the car around with the O2 sensor disconnected for a week or two. Hopefully it goes away. I erased the codes and will now drive the car around for a bit.

P0135 FORD - O2 Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction Bank 1 Sensor 1

Possible causes Faulty Heated Oxygen Sensor (H2OS) Bank 1 Sensor 1 Heated Oxygen Sensor (H2OS) Bank 1 Sensor 1 circuit fuse Heated Oxygen Sensor (H2OS) Bank 1 Sensor 1 circuit open shorted to ground Heated Oxygen Sensor (H2OS) Bank 1 Sensor 1 circuit poor electrical connection Faulty Engine Control Module (ECM) What does this mean? Tech notes The code means that there is a problem with the heater element circuit of the heated oxygen sensor. The control module monitors how long it take the sensor to warm up and start sending an adequate signal. The code is triggered when the sensor is taking too long to warm up. Water getting inside the heated oxygen sensor connector can caused the heated oxygen sensor fuse to blow. Before replacing the sensor, check for the condition of the heated oxygen sensor fuse and connectors. If the sensor and connector are OK, replacing the O2 Sensor 1 usually takes care of the problem What does this mean? When is the code detected? Current amperage in the front heated oxygen sensor heater circuit is out of the normal range. (An improper voltage drop signal is sent to ECM through the front heated oxygen sensor heat Possible symptoms Engine Light ON (or Service Engine Soon Warning Light) Possible higher than usual fuel Consumption P0135 FORD Description Oxygen Sensors (O2S) or Heated Oxygen Sensors (HO2S) need to reach a minimum operating temperature of 750 degrees F to produce an accurate voltage signal. The faster the heated oxygen sensor reaches that temperature the faster the sensor will start sending an accurate signal to the Engine Control Module (ECM). In order to achieve the require temperature, a heater element is included inside the heated oxygen sensor. The ECM controls the heated oxygen sensor heater element based on signals from the engine coolant temperature and engine load. The ECM controls the heater element circuit by allowing current flow to ground. The ECM monitors the voltage signal received through the heater element circuit and determines the state of the circuit by comparing the voltage detected with the factory specifications.

Read more: https://www.autocodes.com/p0135_ford.html
 
Been driving it around a few weeks now and have over 100 miles put on it. No check engine lights. Think it's safe to bring over for inspection?
 
Yes it should be fine. Most decent code reads should let you know what readiness tests have completed. Not sure about your state but in mine I can pass emissions testing with 2 readiness tests not being completed.
 
spoke too soon. Got the check engine light last night after doing a 40 mile trip to Maryland and 40 miles back on the freeway.

Will see what codes pop up this time.

In the state of virginia, the vehicle will fail emissions of 3 or more tests are unable to be completed.

Also, vehicle will immediately fail if the check engine light is "ON"

I'm hoping the code that triggered the CEL is from the vehicles CompuValve which handles the CNG fuel system. I think that can be independendtly reset by doing a weird on/off series of key turns.

If that is the case, I can reset compuvalve and the CEL should go off. (Maybe that's why the CEL didn't come back on for a few weeks after I reset recently) then I can just bring it for inspection.

What I didn't realize (until now after searching for the emissions requirements of the state) was I could get an extension waiver for the emissions inspection if repairs took a while. I may have to re-register the vehicle now. The safety is due at end of this month.
 
Back
Top