[89GT4me]

Spending 8 gillion hours under my car replacing the thin passenger side factory 02 sensor, with a larger unit from bosch (requiring me torquing the poo out of the control arm/transmission to get the threads to line up......only to not be able to fit my 22 m wrench to torque it down all the way has put me over the top.

I am very 5.0 savvy and have installed everything in these cars from a clutch, to a rear end to a radiator, to a heater core......my one weakness is electrical, and so I am turning to my faithful brothers for answers so i don't have to resort to all mighty no no yes-to nonsense rip off person, also known as a mechanic.......but guys I am this close!!!(okay not all mechanics are rip offs, some are on this board, and most can be friends, but i am just whining bc I recently moved to Concord, Ca and dont have a hook up with shop tools) lol

Anyway, help me help myself before it is too late and I spend more un needed cash........

Here is the issue:

My check engine light has been on since I bought the car, I now need to smog it, thus the immediate need to turn it off, that and its annoying as hell.

I like both muscle cars and the environment, so I bought a brand new 4 cat set up off ebay, and now have almost completely installed two new o2 sensors as well, so the PIA part is done, mostly. After the cats I installed a 2 chamber flowmaster catback.

Could my CEL be caused by the passenger side o2 sensor not being torqued down all the way??? It is currently about a nickles width from being fully seated.........

If I take my car to autozone, how good can there scanner's narrow down the potential problems???

My car runs perfect, excellent oil pressure, perfect idle, no smoke, cool all day long..........the only flaw is the fuel economy is not what it should be.........what emissions component is likely to cause this??? (we can cross off the o2 sensors)

I also replaced the pcv valve/cap rotor.......

I dont suspect a vacuum leak as their is no idle issues, and I traced the lines for proper connections......could a small leak that I am not seeing not affect driveability but cause the CEL and poor fuel economy........

Is this an EGR issue?? IAC??

I am going nuts, and have already paid a gillion dollars to the dmv to register my car, and I am sick of having to go in and get temp permits month after month..

Help guys help-----

I had a TPI camaro, that broke down all the time, so I got real familiar with putting a paper clip in the diagnostic terminal to pull the codes................but I havent found anything on any 5.0 website saying you can do this with a ford comp.........I am not looking to go by a voltometer especially if I can just go to autozone. but if a paperclip would work that would be cool......

I know someone here has had this issue, or can shed light on the problem.........

I just dont want to go out and by the other 13 or so sensors it could be only to find it to be the very last one.........

Thanks guys!!!

[FoxChassis]

Originally Posted by 89GT4me

I had a TPI camaro, that broke down all the time, so I got real familiar with putting a paper clip in the diagnostic terminal to pull the codes................but I havent found anything on any 5.0 website saying you can do this with a ford comp.........but if a paperclip would work that would be cool......

You can do the same thing with your Mustang.

http://www.allfordmustangs.com/forum...028-post4.html

[EagleAutosports]

Best thing to do is find out what code you have, and go from there.

[VFAST]

or unplug the engine soon light

[89GT4me]

So, if I understand correctly all I need to do is ground the STI, and turn the key to on, and then count the blinks??

How beautifully simple!!

I will pull the codes tonight, and repost, so that we can make a best guess to what I need to replace next

Hopefully, I pull a narrow/specific code. I will keep my fingers crossed!!!

Thanks again, for the link. Very helpful!

ps-VFAST, in California you cannot unplug, the engine light because it has to turn on, then turn off, to pass smog.......I could simply reset it, unplug the battery and clear the code, but then this wouldn't clear up the problem, and I would certainly have more troubles down the road, plus with the goal of my 5.0 being a daily driver, I want to squeeze every ounce of fuel economy out of it that I can......I already have an automatic trans hodling me back slightly, so a proper functioning emissions package is essential to me making less visits to the fuel pump.......but thanks for the advice bro!

[89GT4me]

Okay, guys I pulled the codes, and here is what I got:

Code 66: No mass air flow sensor signal

Code 96: Fuel pump circuit


Wouldnt my car run like poop if the mass air flow sensor was bad? Or not necessarily? Does the code 66 mean the sensor is bad?



Also, my fuel pump works properly, "does fuel pump circiut" refer to another problem like gas cap, injectors, etc???

I cant wait to get this fixed any suggesstions or guidance would be appreciated, thanks guys!!!