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Fuel Trim question

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    Topic
  • #470075
    JeremyJeremy
    Participant

      I’ve got a 2000 Ford Taurus with the 3.0 liter “ohv” engine. I was scanning my car, particually looking at the fuel trims. And I noticed that everything seemed fine most of the time. In PARK, at idle, my LTFT’s were around +6% on both banks and STFT were around 0% on both banks. But when I’m idling in DRIVE, with my foot on the brake(like at a stoplight) my LTFT’s go anywhere from +10% to +16% on both banks and my STFT’s are around +3%. Any other time other than idling in park or idling in drive, the fuel trim numbers are perfect. So, is this normal? If not which direction should I go in to diagnose what’s wrong? Thanks in advance for the feedback!!!

    Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
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    • #470079
      John B KobberstadJohn B Kobberstad
      Participant
        #470101
        college mancollege man
        Moderator

          you may have a slight vacuum leak.

          #470259
          dreamer2355dreamer2355
          Participant

            +1 to the above posts.

            What happens to those fuel trim numbers when you are driving?

            Anything +/-10 is generally ok on your LTFT.

            It does show that your PCM is adding fuel to correct a lean condition.

            Keep us posted.

            #470281
            JeremyJeremy
            Participant

              My fuel trims stay close to 0% while driving. I’m sure I got a vacuum leak somewhere. I’ve replaced pretty much everything but the lower intake manifold gasket to correct the leak. But, my question was why the big difference in LTFT between idling in drive and idling in park? Why would the car go even leaner as soon as I put it into drive?

              I’ve been watching Eric’s videos for a long time… They are very informative… He’s one of a kind. I’ve learned so much from watching.

              I also have a question about my alternator and/or battery. I watched the video about diagnosing alternator faults and I am wondering if my alternator and/or battery is dying on me. I did some testing this morning. The ambient temperature was 48F. I tested battery voltage before I started the car. It was 12.29 volts.

              With the car running at idle, with no load. Voltage was anywhere from 14.14 volts to 14.29 volts. The voltage seemed to constantly fluctuate between those voltages.

              Then I turned all accessories on and at idle it dropped down to 11.72 volts. It stayed between 11.72 volts and 11.78 volts.

              Then with all accessories on with engine rpms around 2500rpms, the voltage went to 13.72 and stayed very close to that number.

              Now with this information I think the battery is getting weak and alternator may be going too. According to the video the voltage shouldn’t be that low at idle with all accesories on. But a few other people told me that since the voltage did go up when I raised the rpm up to 2,000rpm’s, that the alternator was okay. So, what do you guys think? I also checked positive side and ground side and everything was good there.

              #470435
              college mancollege man
              Moderator

                Have your battery and alternator load tested at an auto
                part store.

                #470512
                EricTheCarGuy 1EricTheCarGuy
                Keymaster

                  Yea everything you’ve posted including the fuel trim readings say vacuum leak.

                Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
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