Code 26

[dogojoe96]

Been occasionally getting a check engine light and finally pulled codes tonight. Got 26 = air/fuel rich, I have noticed that my fuel milage has not been the best.

Cleaned my air filter as it was dusty as hell from the 4th camping/ wheeling.

Timing is set just a hair above spec because I live at 6000+ ft.

I couldn't find much on this issue. What else could cause it? AFM, injectors, O2 sensor? Any suggestions of where to check greatly appreciated. [emoji16]

 

[dogojoe96]

Bump up for suggestions of where to start diagnosis. Not too sure where to start.

 

[KidVermicious]

Here's the code:


AIR/FUEL RATIO RICH INDICATOR

--INJECTOR FAULT(S)

--FUEL PRESSURE

--OXYGEN SENSOR

--AIRFLOW METER OR MAP SENSOR

--IGNITION

--COLD START INJECTOR

--ECU

It could be any of those, and if you don't have any other symptoms or codes to narrow it down you might have to start guessing. If you want to throw parts at it, the O2 sensor is cheap and easy to replace, if you don't know when it was changed last, I'd start there. You could try an injector cleaner like Techron too, but if you've got a stuck injector it probably won't free it up. You can ohm out your AFM and make sure its signal is good, that's free. I don't know about the 3.0 but my 22RE motors never had a schrader valve on the fuel rail, so I don't know how you'd go about checking fuel pressure. You could unplug your cold start injector to partially rule that out, though you might have to find a way to interrupt fuel to it to completely isolate it as a factor, just in case it's stuck open. You could ohm out your TPS too, it's not on the list but if the TPS wasn't calibrated right the truck might not be getting as much air as it thinks it is and that could cause a rich condition.

Lots of digging to do. Hope that helps, and hopefully one of these other guys with actual mechanics training can help if I didn't.

 

[dogojoe96]

Thanks for all that! Gives me a direction to start looking, I don't have a FSM to look up these things I was just able to print out a list of codes but now I have some things to start digging into. I have never seen a Schrader valve on the fuel rail from the work I've done. Thanks again

 

[dogojoe96]

Quick update, for the past few days I have noticed the smell of raw fuel on the passenger side. Today when I got home from work I popped the hood to find the source. I found the (return line?) leaking from both band clamps with a steady drip. Tightened both up and we will see what that yields. No more visible leaks and smell of fuel.

 

[dogojoe96]

Update/ solution! So I believe this goes back to me assuming my spark plugs were good. When I got a parts truck with a motor with 40k (with records) to do a manual transmission swap I said f***k it and swapped the motor too. Since the motor was so fresh I figured that it would have new plugs and I could be lazy and wait till I put some miles on it to change them. Well I finally thought to check them after I couldn't find any other problems with other parts suggested to check. When I went to pull them out it seemed like they were cross threaded in there. (That was one oh shit moment) after some persuasion I got them out fine. Whoever put them in globbed on the antisieze glueing them in there. I wish I got a picture before chucking them because all 6 I could just about gap them with a pry bar. Fresh plugs have made such a difference, no more chugging when hot, a slight miss that I had is gone and there seems to be a bit more power/ throttle response. Time will tell about the code and I'm sure I will get a bit better fuel economy.

TL: DR CHECK YOUR SPARK PLUGS FIRST

But thanks to everyone who gave some suggestions and I hope this can help someone with a similar issues

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

Yep! That's why I am always telling people to READ THE PLUGS BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE!!!!!!

Plugs are an amazing part! They can tell you if you have leaky injectors, too much or too little air, heat issues and can even tell you where your engine is damaged by having one plug unlike any other!

And as for those banjo clamps, I've learned to either take my time with 1500+ grit sandpaper to both sides on a flat workbench (my shop has a glass table for my vinyl signwork), or just break down and buy new copper gaskets. Nobody likes having a fire under the hood, especially your beloved truck!:rockon: