Is the old one soft and kind of spongy?

My 4.6 Expy had a leak at the rocker cover. Mine had a hard elbow conning out of the cover and a short rubber hose connecting it to the hard plastic line. I know it's a different motor, but it seems like there are about 20 different ways Ford configured the PCV system over the years.

 

Well, it looked spongy and ratty looking if you know what I mean by that. I didn't squeeze it in case it cracked. I will go back to Villa Ford and attempt to get the correct elbow. You know, where I work, besides a full CNC machine shop and plastic & injection molding, we have a rubber molding dept. These elbows that Ford puts on their vehicles probably have only a three year shelf life. If the elbows and a lot of other rubber components were molded out of silicone or fluorosilicone, we would never have this problem. Silicone has an indefinite shelf life although most of the big prime contractors are now calling it a 20 year shelf life. Kind of tells you why Ford was installing silicone coolant hoses on the Crown Vic P71 police interceptor. But I digress....

I will get this thing fixed. Now, worst case scenario....If that doesn't solve the problem, what next? Or maybe I should wait and see if throws the same codes after I put the new elbow on? Geez I hope that elbow is the problem.

2002 F-150 Lariat Supercrew 5.4L, auto, 2WD
Dark Shadow Gray/Silver, Flowmaster SUV 50 series
18" Kruz Snowdown wheels
285/60/18 Sumitomo HTR Sport HP tires
https://www.f150online.com/galleries/....cfm?gnum=5989

1995 Dodge Dakota extended cab
SLT, 5.2L, auto 4X4 Black

 

At least 20 types lol. 88 posts the 97 98 5.4L and older 4.2L just above. For the 5four, that part changed, - quite a number of times anyway, as mentioned above. At one time the elbow was eliminated and a lengthy hose was used in its place. Also back in 97 98 99, that elbow connected to the intake. Between 2000 and 2003 for the 5.4L, the elbows connected to the throttle body elbow (plenum) vs the intake.

For 2002, hell who knows lol. I bet there's 2 for that year. I can say there's more than just few different looking parts/sensors on that engine making them 02 specific. Match it up at the dealer.

BTW, BB and CA are revision numbers.

 

That was my first thought when I was at the parts dept, even though it was the wrong one I'll attempt to get the right one. Like what was said, my PCV valve doesn't have an elbow, just a hose connecting to a right angle barb on the valve. Hose runs to the back of throttle body, connects to the elbow, elbow connects to throttle body.

 

That sounds like my four-six expy. The hose at the rocker is where mine was shot. The rubber part is only about 3" long and connects to a hard plastic pipe that runs up to the elbow at the throttle body. I got that hose at a parts store, bulk hose sold by the foot.

 

I replaced the whole thing (part # F75Z 6C324 JA) on my 97 5.4 when I had those codes pop up on me. No codes since. I got the part from the local Ford dealer for $34..

Mitch

 

go to Wal-Mart get a can of MAF cleaner (gentle on sensors) or a can of carb cleaner, run the engine till it is warm, spray around the area you think the leak is on. Most the time your idle will change with the fluids being introduced.

 

No, - I don't think so....

 

That used to work on carb engines, but modern fuel injected computers regulate the A/F ratio so fast that you'll never hear the engine change speed in most cases.

You have monitor the output of the O2 sensors or the STFT live data to see what's going on.

 

Went back to Villa Ford to return the small elbow. Tried to get the correct one. Parts guy said Ford no longer sells the elbow separately, it is attached to the PCV line/hose assembly and I would need that. But he did try to find an elbow that went on a car with no luck, I.D. of elbow was too big. He also asked a couple of techs about it and they said they have always seen it as a complete assembly. So, list price was $36.97, he knocked it down to $26.62, & with the return of the small boot, I paid the difference which was $16.83. The assembly also included a new PCV valve & the thick insulation around the hose. The part number is YL3Z-6C324-B

So I waited until it stopped raining then went out and pulled off the old assembly & put on the new one. Took all of 2 minutes. I cleared the codes & took it around the block. Before this, it took approx 4 days to throw those two codes. I hope that light stays off.

I hope I didn't drive it too much to damage the cats, I only live 3 miles from work and did a couple of store runs yesterday, about 5 miles total store run, two weeks worth back & forth to work.

Thank you all for the input and advice. If anything else comes up, you bet I will be back here.

Reloader

__________________
2002 F-150 Lariat Supercrew 5.4L, auto, 2WD
Dark Shadow Gray/Silver, Flowmaster SUV 50 series
18" Kruz Snowdown wheels
285/60/18 Sumitomo HTR Sport HP tires
https://www.f150online.com/galleries/....cfm?gnum=5989

1995 Dodge Dakota extended cab
SLT, 5.2L, auto 4X4 Black

 

As I was pulling in the driveway at work this morning, the light came on. I got home a few minutes ago and pulled the codes. Only one code this time, P0171.
I thought I fixed it. Well guys, now what do I look for or do? I'm at a complete loss. Do any of you have any suggestions? Any will be helpful. Also, I noticed that after I parked this morning at work, before I shut the engine off, the rpm's were going up & down a bit every second but it acted normal when I got home, no rpm surging like this morning.
Thanks.
Reloader

 

You still have a vacuum leak SOMEWHERE.

Do you have any exhaust leaks?

 

An exhaust leak? None that I am aware of. You mean around the exhaust manifolds? I have not heard any exhaust leaks around the exhaust manifolds. How could that cause a vacuum leak? I don't really know what to check or look for next. This is baffling. There's only a set number of vacuum lines on the engine and related stuff. I really wish I could see it and say "THERE IT IS!" But I would venture to assume it's not that simple anymore. So to recap what I have replaced so far, I replaced one hose coming from the throttle body to a green colored plastic manifold next to the power brake booster. Then I replaced the PCV line which consists of a new PCV valve, the plastic line going to the back of the throttle body, and the elbow that connects to the PCV line then to the back of the throttle body. both the hose and the PCV line looked pretty bad. I don't know what to check next. It's throwing the two original codes when this debacle first started, P0171 & P0174. This time, it was only P0171 then after a couple of days, P0174 showed up. I will admit, This is a great learning experience, but I want to correct the problem before I damage the cats. any and all help and suggestions will be welcomed.

Reloader

 

An exhaust leak doesn't cause a vacuum leak, what it does is confuse the O2's.

You might have leaky intake manifold gaskets or something like that, vacuum leaks aren't just hoses. The only thing that can DEFINITELY be said is you have unmetered air entering the intake system somewhere after the MAF, or exhaust leaks in front of the O2's.

Have you checked the intake tube between the airbox and throttle body?

 

I will check the intake tube to see if it has any defects. Just a thought...is it possible it could be the MAF sensor or even the DPFE sensor? A few websites noted that a dirty or malfunctioning MAF sensor or a bad DPFE sensor could cause the PCM to throw those two codes. Opinions?