Help With Codes Please

**Badass WS6** · 07-24-2013, 07:15 AM

Would anyone of you chime in and help me by telling me what these two codes that are triggering an SES light please? And also, if possible, repair to have it fixed. Thanks.

P0171

P0174

Car is an 02 WS6 with 118,000 on the clock.

Bone stock except for exhaust.

**98TransAmWs-6** · 07-24-2013, 07:46 AM

P0174 means that an oxygen sensor in bank 2 detected a lean condition (too much oxygen in the exhaust). A code P0174 may mean that one or more of the following has happened: The MAF (Mass Air Flow) Sensor is dirty or faulty. Note: The use of "oiled" air filters can cause the MAF to become dirty if the filter is over-oiled. There is also an issue with some vehicles where the MAF sensors leak the silicone potting material used to protect the circuitry. There could be a vacuum leak downstream of the MAF sensor.

P0171 means that an oxygen sensor in bank 1 has detected a lean condition (too much oxygen in the exhaust).*A code P0171 may mean that one or more of the following has happened: The MAF (Mass Air Flow) Sensor is dirty or faulty Note: The use of "oiled" air filters may cause the MAF to become dirty if the filter is over-oiled. There is also an issue with some vehicles where the MAF sensors leak the silicone potting material used to protect the circuitry. There could be a vacuum leak downstream of the MAF sensor Possible cracked vacuum or PCV line/connection Faulty or stuck open PCV valve Failed or faulty oxygen sensor (bank 1, sensor 1) Sticking/plugged or failed fuel injector Low fuel pressure (possible plugged/dirty fuel filter!) Exhaust leak between engine and first oxygen sensor.

I know I repeated the information for both but this is what I have found. I had these codes before and the most likely causes arw the pcv line on the back of the intake being broken and bad o2 sensors.

***SMWS6TA*** · 07-24-2013, 07:48 AM

Basically your running too lean.

Code P0171 may mean that one or more of the following has happened: The MAF (Mass Air Flow) Sensor is dirty or faulty Note: The use of "oiled" air filters may cause the MAF to become dirty if the filter is over-oiled.
There is also an issue with some vehicles where the MAF sensors leak the silicone potting material used to protect the circuitry.
There could be a vacuum leak downstream of the MAF sensor Possible cracked vacuum or PCV line/connection Faulty or stuck open PCV valve Failed or faulty oxygen sensor (bank 1, sensor 1) Sticking/plugged or failed fuel injector Low fuel pressure (possible plugged/dirty fuel filter!)
Exhaust leak between engine and first oxygen sensor

Code P0174 may mean that one or more of the following has happened: The MAF (Mass Air Flow) Sensor is dirty or faulty. Note: The use of "oiled" air filters can cause the MAF to become dirty if the filter is over-oiled. There is also an issue with some vehicles where the MAF sensors leak the silicone potting material used to protect the circuitry. There could be a vacuum leak downstream of the MAF sensor.

Clean MAF first and check for vacuum leaks then clear codes.

If still not resolved unplug the maf and see if idle improves. If so, maf needs to be checked out.

**98TransAmWs-6** · 07-24-2013, 07:57 AM

Originally Posted by SMWS6TA

Basically your running too lean.

Code P0171 may mean that one or more of the following has happened: The MAF (Mass Air Flow) Sensor is dirty or faulty Note: The use of "oiled" air filters may cause the MAF to become dirty if the filter is over-oiled.
There is also an issue with some vehicles where the MAF sensors leak the silicone potting material used to protect the circuitry.
There could be a vacuum leak downstream of the MAF sensor Possible cracked vacuum or PCV line/connection Faulty or stuck open PCV valve Failed or faulty oxygen sensor (bank 1, sensor 1) Sticking/plugged or failed fuel injector Low fuel pressure (possible plugged/dirty fuel filter!)
Exhaust leak between engine and first oxygen sensor

Code P0174 may mean that one or more of the following has happened: The MAF (Mass Air Flow) Sensor is dirty or faulty. Note: The use of "oiled" air filters can cause the MAF to become dirty if the filter is over-oiled. There is also an issue with some vehicles where the MAF sensors leak the silicone potting material used to protect the circuitry. There could be a vacuum leak downstream of the MAF sensor.

Clean MAF first and check for vacuum leaks then clear codes.

If still not resolved unplug the maf and see if idle improves. If so, maf needs to be checked out.

Lol you said the same thing as me.

***SMWS6TA*** · 07-24-2013, 08:17 AM

we posted at almost the same time :lol

**theorangeguy** · 07-24-2013, 09:09 AM

did anybody say to clean the MAF...?

go ahead and clean the throttle body while you are doing the MAF as well...if the MAF is dirty, the throttle body is probably pretty gummed up too. Its a good way to burn 5-10mins while you wait for the MAF to dry.

**98TransAmWs-6** · 07-24-2013, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by 98TransAmWs-6

P0174 means that an oxygen sensor in bank 2 detected a lean condition (too much oxygen in the exhaust). A code P0174 may mean that one or more of the following has happened: The MAF (Mass Air Flow) Sensor is dirty or faulty. Note: The use of "oiled" air filters can cause the MAF to become dirty if the filter is over-oiled. There is also an issue with some vehicles where the MAF sensors leak the silicone potting material used to protect the circuitry. There could be a vacuum leak downstream of the MAF sensor.

P0171 means that an oxygen sensor in bank 1 has detected a lean condition (too much oxygen in the exhaust).*A code P0171 may mean that one or more of the following has happened: The MAF (Mass Air Flow) Sensor is dirty or faulty Note: The use of "oiled" air filters may cause the MAF to become dirty if the filter is over-oiled. There is also an issue with some vehicles where the MAF sensors leak the silicone potting material used to protect the circuitry. There could be a vacuum leak downstream of the MAF sensor Possible cracked vacuum or PCV line/connection Faulty or stuck open PCV valve Failed or faulty oxygen sensor (bank 1, sensor 1) Sticking/plugged or failed fuel injector Low fuel pressure (possible plugged/dirty fuel filter!) Exhaust leak between engine and first oxygen sensor.

I know I repeated the information for both but this is what I have found. I had these codes before and the most likely causes arw the pcv line on the back of the intake being broken and bad o2 sensors.

I eluded to the cleaning but did not physically state cleaning it. To the OP I would start with the simple and cheap things first and then work your way up from there as far as troubleshooting goes.

**Badass WS6** · 07-24-2013, 05:50 PM

Thank you guys for the responses. I appreciate all the helpful info and knowledge from you guys and gals that are on this site.

Wish I had just half the car knowledge that you guys have.

Back on topic. My original question about those two codes was referring to an '02 WS6, which was the car that has those two codes.

I was just curious as to what they meant and how expensive of a repair it would be to fix those two issues.

**pajeff02** · 07-24-2013, 06:04 PM

Could be a simple issue... or not so simple. How about fuel pressure? When was the fuel filter last replaced? That is listed near the end of the possible causes and your car does have a few miles on it.

**Badass WS6** · 07-24-2013, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

Could be a simple issue... or not so simple. How about fuel pressure? When was the fuel filter last replaced? That is listed near the end of the possible causes and your car does have a few miles on it.

The car that has these codes is an '02 WS6 that is for sell here locally. I drove it a couple days ago and it started right up, ran good, drove good, squeeled the tires all the way through 3rd, which impressed me. The only thing that caught my eye as far as a con goes was the SES light and the codes it was showing, the ones I mentioned. Bone stock, 118,xxx miles.

My Camaro that is in my sig I no longer have. Sold it about 3 years ago with 260,xxx miles on it for $4500.

Itching to get back behind the wheel of an LS1 F-Body again. This time a Trans Am.

**0rion** · 07-24-2013, 07:01 PM

you say bone stock except for the exhaust....what's not stock? Just a catback or does it have headers? Did the car idle normally? These guys have pretty well covered everything but I wonder if it's still on original O2's? I would guess yes and probably also plugs. I would say carry a fuel pressure gauge up there and check fuel pressure just to rule out the pump. The pump is really the only pain in the ass thing it could be as far as a pain to swap and expensive. The rest is fairly simple and inexpensive. I would act like that light is the worst thing in the world though during negotiations. Like these guys have said.....it could be a handful of things and could be a really simple/cheap fix to a not so simple/expensive fix. It would just need someone to troubleshoot it. I would question why it's being sold that way and why hasn't someone already fixed it.

**Badass WS6** · 07-24-2013, 09:16 PM

Originally Posted by 0rion

you say bone stock except for the exhaust....what's not stock? Just a catback or does it have headers? Did the car idle normally? These guys have pretty well covered everything but I wonder if it's still on original O2's? I would guess yes and probably also plugs. I would say carry a fuel pressure gauge up there and check fuel pressure just to rule out the pump. The pump is really the only pain in the ass thing it could be as far as a pain to swap and expensive. The rest is fairly simple and inexpensive. I would act like that light is the worst thing in the world though during negotiations. Like these guys have said.....it could be a handful of things and could be a really simple/cheap fix to a not so simple/expensive fix. It would just need someone to troubleshoot it. I would question why it's being sold that way and why hasn't someone already fixed it.

By exhaust I meant just a Flowmaster 40. Just the muffler and tips. Should have been more specific. Sounded good.

Regarding the light, that was my plan from when I first noticed it. I'm gonna either have them fix it beforehand, or the price is dropping. Otherwise I'm gonna say see ya.