Results 1 to 16 of 16
  1. 12-12-2009, 12:48 PM #1
    03CVLX
    03CVLX is offline
    Post whore
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Milwaukee,WI
    Posts
    1,582
    Vehicles

    1997 Mercury Cougar

    Hey guys,

    I have a friend who has a 1997 Mercury Cougar with the 3.8 V6. She told me that a mechanic told her that her car needs Cats and all 4 O2 sensors. The check engine light is on.

    Now here is the weird part. She took it for emissions today and it passed. I am beginning to question the diagnosis and plan on scanning it myself when I get by the car next time.

    My question is this. If that mechanic was correct, is there any possible way it could still pass emissions and have that many problems, or should I be looking for another cause.
    2011 Lincoln MKS AWD
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  2. 12-12-2009, 04:45 PM #2
    Car Guy
    Car Guy is offline
    Wasted talent. Car Guy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Niwot, CO
    Posts
    8,216
    My guess is a faulty CEL light and someone is trying to take her for a ride. There is no way it would pass if the light was truly on because of bad converters and O2s.....








    .
    Last edited by Car Guy; 12-12-2009 at 04:53 PM.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  3. 12-12-2009, 04:55 PM #3
    OxmanWI
    OxmanWI is offline
    Not at the table Carlos OxmanWI's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Milwaukee, WI
    Posts
    1,732
    Vehicles

    Scan it and post the codes here, that mechanic is trying to make some money.

    You can check out Tccoa and do a search on some threads if you want too.

    http://forums.tccoa.com/forumdisplay.php?f=9
    Last edited by OxmanWI; 12-12-2009 at 04:57 PM.
    -Josh

    Tork Tech Thunderbird

    God Bless the men & women who have served and serving to keep us free
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  4. 12-12-2009, 05:03 PM #4
    03CVLX
    03CVLX is offline
    Post whore
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Milwaukee,WI
    Posts
    1,582
    Vehicles

    Ok, I just scanned it and it has 2 codes popping up one says pending and the other is permanantly in the computer.

    They both say its P1443 and it asked the brand of vehicle I was checking so It must be manufacturer specific. The description is Evaporative Emission System Control Valve(low/no Flow) I was thinking EGR valve is plugged up possibly. I will check TCCOA further. Thanks guys.

    I definitely agree that someone is lying to her big time.
    2011 Lincoln MKS AWD
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  5. 12-12-2009, 05:10 PM #5
    Car Guy
    Car Guy is offline
    Wasted talent. Car Guy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Niwot, CO
    Posts
    8,216
    I have no idea how it passed with that code in the system......
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  6. 12-12-2009, 05:13 PM #6
    03CVLX
    03CVLX is offline
    Post whore
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Milwaukee,WI
    Posts
    1,582
    Vehicles

    Yeah, I have just been perusing google for ideas and they are saying its a purge canister back near the gas tank. Does this sound correct to you Justin??? TCCOA is my next stop.
    2011 Lincoln MKS AWD
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  7. 12-12-2009, 05:15 PM #7
    FoxStang
    FoxStang is offline
    This is why we don't have FWDs FoxStang's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Milw/Chicago
    Posts
    943
    Quote Originally Posted by 03CVLX View Post
    Ok, I just scanned it and it has 2 codes popping up one says pending and the other is permanantly in the computer.

    They both say its P1443 and it asked the brand of vehicle I was checking so It must be manufacturer specific. The description is Evaporative Emission System Control Valve(low/no Flow) I was thinking EGR valve is plugged up possibly. I will check TCCOA further. Thanks guys.

    I definitely agree that someone is lying to her big time.
    If the car has a evap canister it could be a old hose cracked.
    1979 Mustang- Needs trans
    2004 Explorer- Daily

    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  8. 12-12-2009, 05:28 PM #8
    Car Guy
    Car Guy is offline
    Wasted talent. Car Guy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Niwot, CO
    Posts
    8,216
    Quote Originally Posted by 03CVLX View Post
    Yeah, I have just been perusing google for ideas and they are saying its a purge canister back near the gas tank. Does this sound correct to you Justin??? TCCOA is my next stop.
    It could be but there are many other things it could be too, hard to say without looking at it.....
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  9. 12-12-2009, 05:58 PM #9
    OxmanWI
    OxmanWI is offline
    Not at the table Carlos OxmanWI's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Milwaukee, WI
    Posts
    1,732
    Vehicles

    Quote Originally Posted by FoxStang View Post
    If the car has a evap canister it could be a old hose cracked.
    Yup look for a small hose about the size of a 3/8? Should be on the left side (Passenger side) around the valve cover under the intake tube running down.

    If you want I can start a thread over at Tccoa for you.

    Note:

    Quote Originally Posted by racecougar View Post
    Yep, just remove the passenger side wheel, then the fender liner, and you'll see the evap canister just below the air filter location. It's mounted to a bracket by one screw. There are a couple lines going to it, one of which should have the canister purge solenoid on it. It should only take 20-30 minutes to swap out the evap canister, including the time for removing/replacing the wheel and fender liner.
    Last edited by OxmanWI; 12-12-2009 at 06:05 PM.
    -Josh

    Tork Tech Thunderbird

    God Bless the men & women who have served and serving to keep us free
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  10. 12-12-2009, 06:01 PM #10
    Holeshot
    Holeshot is offline
    Carry On ! Holeshot's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    eject eject eject !!
    Posts
    4,292
    Anyone here have a portable smoke machine.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  11. 12-12-2009, 06:11 PM #11
    OxmanWI
    OxmanWI is offline
    Not at the table Carlos OxmanWI's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Milwaukee, WI
    Posts
    1,732
    Vehicles

    Get newspaper + matches and your set! A little off topic arn't we?
    -Josh

    Tork Tech Thunderbird

    God Bless the men & women who have served and serving to keep us free
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  12. 12-12-2009, 10:01 PM #12
    03CVLX
    03CVLX is offline
    Post whore
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Milwaukee,WI
    Posts
    1,582
    Vehicles

    Yeah Oxman If you can start a thread that would be cool. So the cracked hose is under the hood?? I figured it was in the back of the car near the tank. Shows how much I really know..

    Edit** So I did some research on Tccoa, and found some really good threads on the problem. However it appears everyone that has had it and the pictures all show 4.6 cars. I guess I would just need to know if its exactly the same setup on a 3.8 car or not.
    Last edited by 03CVLX; 12-12-2009 at 11:20 PM.
    2011 Lincoln MKS AWD
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  13. 12-14-2009, 02:53 PM #13
    OxmanWI
    OxmanWI is offline
    Not at the table Carlos OxmanWI's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Milwaukee, WI
    Posts
    1,732
    Vehicles

    http://forums.tccoa.com/showthread.p...42#post1268842
    -Josh

    Tork Tech Thunderbird

    God Bless the men & women who have served and serving to keep us free
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  14. 12-14-2009, 04:23 PM #14
    03CVLX
    03CVLX is offline
    Post whore
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Milwaukee,WI
    Posts
    1,582
    Vehicles

    Thanks, Oxman
    2011 Lincoln MKS AWD
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  15. 12-14-2009, 05:42 PM #15
    MurphysLaw88GT
    MurphysLaw88GT is offline
    Dusting off my knick knack... MurphysLaw88GT's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Under a bridge
    Posts
    2,510
    When I worked at the test station, I would see a few cars with the light on pass every year. Especially Dodge Stratus or Cirruses or whatever the hell they are.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  16. 03-30-2011, 07:46 PM #16
    KidCougar
    KidCougar is offline
    Pissed off the admins and earned a time out. Turkey Shoot Champion KidCougar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Posts
    19
    Vehicles

    my car passed with the 2 rear o2 sensors not even hooked up, no cats, and plenty of mods...passed with flying colors and the cel was on..
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Forum Rules