mercury marque 4.6L CEL

[upngo50]

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you get a lean code bank 1 and bank 2 on a '97 4.6? Like what would suspect right off the top?

The code thrown was

P0171 Lean condition bank 1
P0174 Lean condition bank 2

[Kirk]

P0171 - System to Lean : The Adaptive Fuel : For lean and rich :
: (Bank 1) : Strategy continuously : DTCs: :
: : monitors fuel delivery : * Fuel system :
: : hardware. The test : * Excessive fuel :
: : fails when the : pressure. :
: : adaptive fuel tables : * Leaking :
: : reach a rich : /contaminated fuel :
: : calibrated limit. : injectors. :
: : : * Leaking fuel :
: : : pressure regulator. :
: : : * Low fuel pressure :
: : : or running out of :
: : : fuel. :
: : : * Vapor recovery :
: : : system. :
: : : * Induction system: :
: : : - Air leaks after :
: : : the MAF. :
: : : - Vacuum Leaks. :
: : : - PCV system. :
: : : - Improperly seated :
: : : engine oil :
: : : dipstick. :
: : : * EGR system: :
: : : - Leaking gasket. :
: : : - Stuck EGR valve. :
: : : - Leaking diaphragm :
: : : or EVR. :
: : : * Base Engine: :
: : : - Oil overfill. :
: : : - Cam timing. :
: : : - Cylinder :
: : : compression. :
: : : - Exhaust leaks :
: : : before or near :
: : : the HO2Ss. :

[quietflow]

poss air flow meter or mass air sensor

Good call, or check the fuel pressure to see if its within spec, it will be one of those 2 more than likely

[oldmantrink]

check maf senor if the hot wire are dirty it can casue code take carb clean and spray
wires off bow dry but ford had some problems with vac hoses and pcv hoses hose on
back side of motor getting old and leaking vac very coman problem you have to look
at hoses for pcv and other vac sources toward back of motor sometimes you will hear
them leak vac hope this helps

[upngo50]

poss air flow meter or mass air sensor

This is absolutely what I was hoping someone would say. That was my thought too so I pulled the meter and look down in there...sure enough the elements were just covered thick. So I took the sensor off and cleaned them. It was my neighbor and I have not heard back from him yet whether that was the problem, but that could just mean he has driven it yet.

I pulled this code once already and he had me clear it. Took two hundred miles for it to come back on. So he tried some injection cleaner and I cleared the code again. This time the light comes on in ten miles. Hard code won't shut off.

I am hoping the meter was the problem, but I figured I would throw it out here since I am applying my general knowlegde of fuel injection and I know there are some people on the site already versed in 4.6

thanx

[upngo50]

check maf senor if the hot wire are dirty it can casue code take carb clean and spray
wires off bow dry but ford had some problems with vac hoses and pcv hoses hose on
back side of motor getting old and leaking vac very coman problem you have to look
at hoses for pcv and other vac sources toward back of motor sometimes you will hear
them leak vac hope this helps

awesome I was hoping you would have some insight....more great info thanx

[oldmantrink]

make sure you check your inlet tube hose clamps too make sure they are tight any
time you get unmetered air in the intake system you can get those codes

[hemdog]

Agreed with oldmantrink. Check the pcv vacuum hose tube going into the intake. There will be two ports. These connections get soft and collapse causing an air leak.