Another P0172 but with a twist

[pharmguy]

I am calling this my wife's car because she was responsible for taking care of it until now ...

A garage talked my wife into replacing the fuel filter during a tune up because I was busy and was away. They used a $45 aftermarket filter. It started to pull the P0172 code almost right away. I told her to have the fuel pressure checked and the fuel filter was replaced with a Wix filter as per the postings here.

4 months later I am getting a P0172 code again. It does seem to be weather-sensitive.

I pull the air filter cover off - THERE IS A MOUSE NEST UNDER THE AIR FILTER!!. I continue to remove the air tube so I have access to the Schrader valve.

The top of the Schrader valve top is grooved! I guess no one read hand tight. I connect the fuel pressure gauge and am talking my wife through what I want her to do. The wife "accidentally" cranks the engine and I think I saw the pressure go up to 54 psi as the engine cranked and reved and the gas started spraying everywhere.

I assume that gas is not supposed to spray out everywhere as it was not mentioned in the manual and seems unsafe. I can only surmise that the grooves on the top of the Schrader port are letting gas leak out?

I am waiting until a buddy is available to test again. I am not giving my wife a second chance to blow me up. I plan on replacing the fuel filter anyways with an OEM just to rule that out.

So ... I believe the fuel filter needs to be replaced but I can't be sure because the Schrader Valve port is screwed up and I was a little preoccupied to really read the guage well as I was hollering at the wife and wiping gas out of my face.

What is the possibility that a ball of grass, Kleenex and feathers blocked enough of the air flow to cause a P0172???

Any other easy to access ports to test pressure? I think I want to stay away from the Schrader port for now.

Cheers,

Jason

[adventureoflink]

P0172 - System too Rich. Lots of things can cause it. like a bad ECTS for starters. And yes a mouse nest and other things may have dirtied or otherwise fouled your MAF sensor, as well as fuel pressure.

http://www.obd-codes.com/p0172 -- this may give you some tips.

[OldNuc]

A mouse nest could cause a p172 but check the pressure. Carefully thread the gauge fitting onto the schrader port and it will not leak. Before doing tat look inside the gauge fitting and see if the sealing washer has left the building. If so a o-ring will work. The Key on engine OFF pressure should be 51-45psi. I bet the mouse got you.

[pharmguy]

Originally Posted by OldNuc

A mouse nest could cause a p172 but check the pressure. Carefully thread the gauge fitting onto the schrader port and it will not leak. Before doing tat look inside the gauge fitting and see if the sealing washer has left the building. If so a o-ring will work. The Key on engine OFF pressure should be 51-45psi. I bet the mouse got you.

I will definitely retry with an o-ring, although I justed used the guage on my Ram and it worked perfectly. I'll do that and have a buddy that understands "Turn the key to the start position but don't start the engine".

Lessons learned:
1. Don't let the car sit near the shed.
2. Only work with your wife if you want to divorce her soon.

Thanks for the help.

Now I have to bite the bullet and buy the Saturn filter at over $200 Canadian. That will be 3 filters in less than a year!

Cheers,

Jason

[adventureoflink]

Originally Posted by pharmguy

Now I have to bite the bullet and buy the Saturn filter at over $200 Canadian. That will be 3 filters in less than a year!

If you got the garage to install it (this part scares many people here ), shouldn't you have a warranty on it?

also, can't you use a WIX filter?

[OldNuc]

Order the filter here. http://www.trademotion.com/splash/in...?siteid=214643 I think they will ship it to Canada through the Post Office so you do not get dinged the brokerage fees from UPS/FedEx etc.

[OldNuc]

Originally Posted by adventureoflink

If you got the garage to install it (this part scares many people here ), shouldn't you have a warranty on it?

also, can't you use a WIX filter?

WIX no longer makes the filter. I have no idea who is making them now. Several failures surfaced at the end of the WIX run also. may have been the new guys filters, don't know.

[pharmguy]

Originally Posted by OldNuc

Order the filter here. ... I think they will ship it to Canada through the Post Office so you do not get dinged the brokerage fees from UPS/FedEx etc.

Just checked the KOEO pressure (buddy came over!) and got over 53 psi. Fuel filter will be replaced ASAP. I am sure the mouse house didn't help.

Sometimes it is hard to find a retailer that is willing to ship via USPS. Everyone seems to want to use UPS who charges upwards of $35 in brokerage fees for us Canadians. I usually tell retailers "it's more patriotic to use USPS" or "what would the forefathers do?" to shame people into using a system that has worked quite well for almost 200 years.

I had a colleague order some filters for a water system. The company had a monopoly on the filters (as they produced the unit) and would only ship UPS. $8 worth of filters cost him about $50 in the end. The brokerage fees were over 400% of the cost of the filters. When the system became obselete he was quick to look into shipping before committing to a particular brand.

Thanks for the help,

Jason

[OldNuc]

It is a racket thats for sure.