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My car has been extremely stubborn since I brought it up to school in Rochester. I've gotten CEL checked out at Autozone and currently got a CEL tonight which I didn't check.

The first time, the car wouldn't start right up. It would just start, RPM's just drop and stall, then I decided to blimp the throttle to get it started. I've gotten P0304, P0305, P0306. Didn't think too much of it, I saw that I was low on oil, added some and that was it.

The second time, the car again, wouldn't start right up, I've gotten P0300, P0171 (System Too Lean, Bank No. 1), P0174 (System Too Lean, Bank No. 2), P0420 (Catalyst System Efficiency Below Limit, Bank No. 1). I figured it could be the 02 sensors.

Today, the car idled erratically, and it's just unexplainable to me. The car would appear to want to stall, but the RPM's just rise over 2k, then back down to around 900, then it would try to stall out again and rise and then back down to 900 until it would stay consistently at around 900.

A problem I have is that I have no way to work on my car until I get home, which is a 6 hour drive. I think it's only the two O2 sensors, would you think it could be reasonably safe to drive home, those 6 hours. Thanks. Sorry for the long post.

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Welcome to CEG!

Engine? Year? Mileage?

Vacuum leaks cause these problems, especially when it's cold.

Misfiring is usually the plugs and wires (P0300-P0306).


On an older V6, vacuum leaks commonly occur in the short hose between the PCV valve and the intake, and at the intake gaskets. Of course they can appear in other places too.

Take the pleated intake hose off and you will find the PCV valve. To find an intake leak, use the spray method or press down firmly on the intake to see if it affects the idle.


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Oh, yeah I knew I left out some vital info, it's a '98 Mystique V6, the plugs and wires have just been replaced recently. I was hoping for it not to be a vacuum leak, I can't really work on the car in the parking lot, one thing it's really cold here, do you think it would survive a 6-7 hour drive down to NYC?

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How long has the light been on?


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Originally posted by Rogerm60:
Welcome to CEG!
Misfiring is usually the plugs and wires (P0300-P0306).






The P300 - P0306 is often a lean misfire, caused by...vacuum leaks.

I personally do not believe that the problem, as posed, is your O2 sensors.

You have all the symptoms of a vacuum leak as described by other posters.

The hunting idle can be due to a vac leak or it may be due to a sluggish IAC (which, ironically, is a controlled vacuum leak).

My To Do list would be to service the upper and lower intakes paying special attention to all the vacuum hoses and the PCV valve, clean (replace if necessary) the IAC, and be on the watch for precat failure.

Steve


98 Contour SE Sport 2.5 Duratec ATX The wifey's car 89 Taurus SHO - 246K miles 94 SHO ATX - 190K 1997 F-150 5.4L ATX - The Workhorse 150K. ANY THREAD WITH "OMG" or "WTF" ETC IN THE TITLE WILL BE IGNORED!

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