Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Branches Southwest help me out my southwest friends

i just got my car back from the dealer. my $50 deductible took care of my bill, but the problem isnt fixed.

i had a check engine light, and the car was losing power, sometimes at high RPM with WOT, and other times would cut out while driving very nicely - so much so that i couldnt stay on the road; i had to pull over and let it die, then wait a few minutes and it would run great again.

well, point is, the FORD dealer pulled the codes;
p0401 and p1408 (among others, i BELIEVE)- both of which are EGR related.

well, they replaced the DPFE sensor (and IAC motor/valve, for the moosing), and that is my question. what the heck is DPFE sensor/system, and where is it, and what does it do? he wouldnt give me a technical enough explanation; i think he thought i wouldnt follow.

he also told me that the "baro reading" was erratic, and told me that my "air cleaner box needs repaired before baro problem can be addressed."

do you guys remember that i cut up the airbox on my car? yeah, all i did was cut the bottom of the box out, for better air flow/more whooshing noise. (shut up, we all like it)

as i understand it (understood it) the baro sensor takes a snap shot of the barometric pressure at startup, to adjust the computer for local altitude. am i correct here? what the heck would that have to do with SLIGHTLY better airflow on my intake system? he was trying to give me some crap i think. (until we found out that we both are modified mustang freaks).

well, give me some input, guys; i know i can count on you guys for it.

ok, thats all for now, have a good day (in arizona!) its like 40-something degrees here today.

Love,
Josh.

The DPFE sensor is the sensor that measures the EGR flow going through the EGR pipe. They seem to be a common problem on our cars. I had to replace mine about 2 months ago. Fortunately I had a good one on the 3L engine that I bought.

First, As far as the cut up airbox, that should be irrelevant to a barometric pressure reading (unless you cut some wires in the process).
Second, your car is a 98 or 99 right? You should be using a MAF and not a barometric pressure sensor. The DPFE sensor will measure the pressure in the EGR tube with the Key on and engine off (i.e. pressure=atmospheric at that point) as a baseline so that it can tell when there is no flow in the EGR tube. Maybe your mechanic is talking about the THAT particular pressure reading.
Just fix the DPFE first and reset all codes.

The DPFE is located on rear of the right-hand cylinder head, just below the IAC motor and very close to the EGR tube that goes from the intake manifold to the exhaust manifold. It is a aluminum colored rectangular box with two black hoses coming out of and connecting to the EGR tube.
HOpe this helps.

warmonger