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UIM/LIM Cleaning

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fordcupcar

CEG'er
Joined
Apr 21, 2007
Messages
132
Location
Wisconsin
My car has been giving P0171/P0174 for the longest time. I have poor acceleration even after fixing IMRC linkage, and sometimes my car dies when coming to a stop. I have a bad alternator that I'll be looking into replacing, as well as a PCV valve sitting at home waiting to be put in.

The car itself has 113k on it already. I have done air filter, fuel filter, and plugs all in last 5k. I have also done oil/oil filter every 2-3k.

I figure it's about time I do the UIM/LIM clean and gasket replacement. However, I went to the sticky FAQ thread and the link is broken. Does anyone have a link that works to a guide I can follow? Or summarize it in brief.
 
That's the same thing mine does, if yours is an early 98 then you probably need to go to a dealer and get the PCM reflashed. There is a TSB for early 98s I cant remember the number. Also the walkthrough is on the front page for UIM/LIM cleaning. Just look in the maintenance and modification section
 
I found this:

TSB #01205 -- SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT VACUUM OR AIR LEAKS IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND / OR ENGINE SYSTEM CAUSING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0171 AND OR P0174. *TT (NHTSA ID #627927, OCTOBER 15 2001)

If you know the exact number that would be amazing. I had no idea there was a TSB for this issue. How would I go about getting my PCM reflashed? Is it free of charge since it is a TSB. Would I still be eligible for this if I have a custom air intake and other slight modifications? Please any help you can give is greatly appreciated.

Thanks for pointing out the front page, I forgot to look there yesterday, silly me :shocked:
 
fordcupcar said:
I found this:

TSB #01205 -- SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT VACUUM OR AIR LEAKS IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND / OR ENGINE SYSTEM CAUSING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0171 AND OR P0174. *TT (NHTSA ID #627927, OCTOBER 15 2001)

If you know the exact number that would be amazing. I had no idea there was a TSB for this issue. How would I go about getting my PCM reflashed? Is it free of charge since it is a TSB. Would I still be eligible for this if I have a custom air intake and other slight modifications? Please any help you can give is greatly appreciated.

Thanks for pointing out the front page, I forgot to look there yesterday, silly me :shocked:
Click to expand...

A TSB does not authorize free repairs. A Ford TSB (the NTSB one you cited is not a Ford TSB) provides information on making repairs. An NTSB TSB is a completely different animal. It is used to gather data that may or may not eventually become a government mandated recall.

I'm sure there is no warranty of any kind left on a Contour that would pay for any sort of TSB repair.
 
no its not free, I think the ford shop here in town charges 65 to reflash, basically the fee to hook it up to their computer. Its a TSB, not a recall, a technical service bulletin is just a mass memo to mechanics so that they can solve common problems that may have an unlikely solution or that are difficult to diagnose.

Oh yeah and definately check all your vaccum lines. I know I had trouble with the vaccum lines back there, they are all plastic and break real easy. Spray some starting fluid or brake cleaner or something flammable back there on the lines and if your motor surges then you have a vaccum leak. Dont spray to much cause to much fuel + fire = trip to the hospital. Actually, you probably better not do this at all unless you are really comfortable with that kinda thing and have little regard for your own safety. I do it all the time, but then again I am the same dumbass who blew myself up with an oven.
 
If I gave them the VIN would they have any record of whether or not my PCM was re-flashed? I've checked before with no luck at finding a vacuum leak. I'll keep you updated. I swapped MAF's today and removed the idle hang fix. Runs a lot different now, I'll keep you updated on whether that's a good or bad thing.
 
if you have your vin updated in your car, they affix a sticker to the inside of the engine compartment stating it was updated, when the update was performed and the shop that did it.

Remember this only applies to some early 98s.
 
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