Backwards Air Filter fix?

[calithirteen]

Hi Everyone,

Any help is greatly appreciated. Bought a 2000 4runner w/ a 185,000 miles on it back in January and love it. Noticed after a month a strong odor of gas especially if I opened the vents and I was getting poor gas mileage. Figured I'd start w/ the O-rings on the injectors. Replaced all of them and noticed one injector was cracked on the bottom (probably my gas issue) and replaced it w/ a remanufactured one. At the same I also, replaced my air filter and noticed that the previous one was installed backwards (the lid on the air box was barely able to close). Installed the new one the correct way and put the air plennum back together after finishing the injectors. The odor has disappeared:clap2: and the truck is running much better. However a day later, CEL came on: the dreaded P10171 1st bank too lean. Cleaned the throttle body and the MAF sensor. Resetted computer and all was well for a day until it came back on.

Going to check to the Plennum w/ carb cleaner to see if there is a leak before buying anything else. I wanted to know if anyone has ever heard of an air filter being installed backwards to keep a CEL off?

 

[awpsome]

Negative on the air filter keeping a CEL off.

It is a slight possibility, also best to start with the cheap/free methods, but to reset the computer by pulling the EFI fuse for a good 30 minutes with the battery ground removed. Just to give the computer a "fresh" start relearning from after cleaning and giving it some proper maintanence you just did.

The lean code can be caused by many things so its best to start with the cheap/free fixes.

 

[calithirteen]

Negative on the air filter keeping a CEL off.

It is a slight possibility, also best to start with the cheap/free methods, but to reset the computer by pulling the EFI fuse for a good 30 minutes with the battery ground removed. Just to give the computer a "fresh" start relearning from after cleaning and giving it some proper maintanence you just did.

The lean code can be caused by many things so its best to start with the cheap/free fixes.

You know I tried to reset the EFI fuse but I wasn't sure how to pull it out and was afraid of breaking it. I'm a novice at backyard mechanicking. Do you just pull it hard or is there a connection point I"m missing?

 

[calithirteen]

You know I tried to reset the EFI fuse but I wasn't sure how to pull it out and was afraid of breaking it. I'm a novice at backyard mechanicking. Do you just pull it hard or is there a connection point I"m missing?

Disregard. I finally pulled it out. Thanks. Let's see what this does. If the check engine light comes back on should I just replace the MAF sensor 1st?

 

[shootmymime]

no your maf isnt bad, it wouldnt run, or only hardly run but like crap if the MAF was bad, i would check for a vacuum leak

 

[A.Wilson013]

I would re- do everything you did. You have a vacuum leak somewhere, I would bet.

 

[calithirteen]

you guys both nailed it. While at work we had a bbq today n my buddy and I decided it was the perfect opportunity to check things out. In the morning I pulled the negative terminal on the battery and EFI n left them off for about an hour or so. Put them back in. No CEL but truck was still not running as good as it should. My buddy and I sprayed some brake cleaner around the plennum while the truck was idling and sure enough it bogged down. Turns out I didnt torque down the bolts on the upper and lower plennum and the throttle body. tightened them all down n noticed the idle smoothed out. took it for a spin and I feel like i have a new truck again! lol

Very embarrassed but hey you live n u learn! Thanks for all of the help

 

[A.Wilson013]

you guys both nailed it. While at work we had a bbq today n my buddy and I decided it was the perfect opportunity to check things out. In the morning I pulled the negative terminal on the battery and EFI n left them off for about an hour or so. Put them back in. No CEL but truck was still not running as good as it should. My buddy and I sprayed some brake cleaner around the plennum while the truck was idling and sure enough it bogged down. Turns out I didnt torque down the bolts on the upper and lower plennum and the throttle body. tightened them all down n noticed the idle smoothed out. took it for a spin and I feel like i have a new truck again! lol

Very embarrassed but hey you live n u learn! Thanks for all of the help

Good lesson to learn though! Before I start any project I make sure to print out any torque specs needed.

Glad you got it figured out!

 

[shootmymime]

you guys both nailed it.

BAM. did it again!

 

[calithirteen]

Good lesson to learn though! Before I start any project I make sure to print out any torque specs needed.

Glad you got it figured out!

Yeah, I definitely need to stop being lazy n buy a torque wrench at Harbor Freight already! Thanks again! Truck is running mint. Hauled my trailer around yesterday n this morning w/ no problem. Just filled it up today and I can't wait to see what the mpg are! I was getting around 10 mpg w/ the vacuum leak! :wow2: