[94mncougar]

Sorry, I didn't know where to put this exactly, however, hopefully you guys will be willing to help with another problem. My sisters 96 Taurus with a 3.0L has been running rough - mainly in the lower rpms. She ran the codes and she is getting a P0340, P0401, P0430. She has cleaned her MAF, EGR, and has all new plugs. She is also short on money, so bringing it in is a last measure. The camshaft position sensor was also replaced, and was found to be bad as well. I am running out of ideas for this car, which is overall nice. It runs bad warm, cold, in/out of gear, and is less bad in higher rpms. I am thinking that maybe the wires are bad and wanted to check the wiring for a short in the wiring to the sensor, but I wanted to get your guys' opinions. Thanks for all the help guys

- Stephen

 

[MadMikeyL]

Well the P0401 is most likely what is causing it to run rough. What probably happened is the EGR ports got all clogged up with carbon, and now some exhaust gas is leaking into the intake cause carbon is blocking the EGR valve from closing all the way. Remove the EGR valve and use carb cleaner and a long thin wire brush to go through the ports and clean them all out. Also spray a bunch of carb clean into the EGR valve and hopefully that will clean it out enough to make it close again. If it doesn't, you will need to replace the valve, but try cleaning it first since it doesn't really cost you anything.

P0340 is a cam position sensor code. If that code came back after you replaced the cam sensor, then there is a problem with either the computer or the cam sensor wiring. Either way, the cam sensor is only used to time the injectors on initial startup, so it won't have any effect on the car running rough.

P0430 is a catalyst below efficiency code. That means you need a new catalytic converter, and it probably wouldn't hurt to replace the O2 sensors at the same time. This shouldn't have any effect on how it runs though, so no rush on that unless the car needs to pass emissions soon.

Mike

 

[94mncougar]

Thanks for the reply.
We already cleaned out the EGR Valve, but I guess replacing that or the sensor is next. Is there a way to see if the sensor is bad other than replacing other parts?

Thanks again.

- Stephen

 

[GreenBird]

If it's the DOHC engine, they have issues with the DPFE sensor.

 

[94mncougar]

Thanks for the heads up. That was one of my concerns, I've been googling for a while on just running rough and when I searched the egr code the sites kept saying clean it out.
Thanks again for the replies, I'll let everyone know what it is.

 

[94mncougar]

In case anyone was wondering or will wonder in the future, the problem was the camshaft needed to be replaced.

 

[icantdrive55]

A new cam sensor will set a code if it isn't properly timed. You have to buy the otc tool to sync the sensor.

 

[ZeroRain]

In case anyone was wondering or will wonder in the future, the problem was the camshaft needed to be replaced.

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