Here goes with the first post to the forum.....

I have a 99 Expedition with the 5.4 and 90K miles. I dropped it off at the dealership today to get it checked out. The service engine light has been on for the past couple of months. Ihad taken it to a local service stationwhen the light originally came on and they ran the code and said it had something to do with the fuel injection, but to keep driving it unless it started giving us problems. I figured it was time to get it checked because weare having some other issues also. First....the motor has started pinging if you run anything other than premium. This actually started long before the check engine light ever came on. It has probably been going on for over a year or so. Needless to say we havebeen paying the higher cost of premium for a while. Could a new fuel filterand flush of thefuel system help this?? Next, the transmission has started to hesitate or slip a little when going into overdrive. This doesn't happen all the timeand only occurs when you are accelerating at aslow pace with little load on the transmission. Last timeI serviced the tranny was around 40K so I know its time for a service there too. Could servicing maybefix the problem?? Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

Just got a call from the dealer. Stated the DPFE sensor was bad along with a leaking PCV hose. Also recommends changing plugs ($200 for plugs) and performing a fuel system cleaning (carbon cleaning $179.00). I think at this point I will go with the sensor and pcv hose. I know plugs will be needed soon, but I think I will give it another 10k or so. I think the carbon cleaning it a load of crap. I think the motor running lean and pinging is from the hose and the sensornot functioning properly. Anyone ever had the carbon cleaning done??

 

I have a 99 Exp EB that I bought new for my wife. Exactly like yours, it has been pinging for a while now especially on load and when going uphill. I experimented with the premium fuel but decided it was not worth spending that much since pinging is not that bad. It has got about 110K miles on it now and the Spark plugs have never been replaced. So I thought it could be because of that.

Sometime ago the Check Engine light also came on and has stayed on since then. However, there is absoultely no difference in how it used to drive before and how it drives now. But I guess I would like to get rid of that light. I do not know how to check trouble codes on this vehicle. I know that Autozone will hook up a scanner and can check it for you for free, but I was looking to save time and check it at home. Typically you can short some pins on the diagnostic interface (OBD-II) and get some lights to flahs that indicate the trouble code. Anyone knows how to do it?????

Carbon cleaning does sound like BS!! Try the other ones first and see how it functions afterwards. Keep us posted. What is DPFE sensor by the way?

 

Its running like new now. I'm not exactly sure what the DPFE sensor does, but that was replaced along with a pcv hose that had a leak. The cost ended up being around $370. to have the work done at the dealership. They tried hard to get me to do the carbon bs, but I didn't budge. I don't know if it was the sensor or the hose, but the lean condition is gone and no pinging whatsoever on 87 octane. Another mechanic told me that is was very common for those sensors (DPFE) to go out and cause the conditions that we are having. If I were you I would take it to the dealer to atleast let the run the diagnostics to see whats going on. The dealership I took it to charges $85 to run diagnostics. Usually if you let them do the work they willinclude the diagnostics chargeas part of the total. I am very happy with the truck now.

 

It turns out the transmission was not slipping. The perceived condition was being caused by the motor running lean. What I thought was slippage was the motor doing some funky stuff. All is well.

 

dpfe is delta pressure feedback exhaust and it moniors the egr valve in a way they get clogged and go bad this is a common problem among fords

 

My CEL came on today, I performed the self check using the Key trick. But do not no what item I am looking for.
r 51
EE 02
dt 9d31
dtcnone
EnG000.0
M 000.0
tac 0000
Fuel 180
OIL 255
dEG C083
br 128
batt 15.3
rheo 7FF
Cr -h
ALEF --
PA Cd
Pb 18
PC 41
Pd 3F
PEO 153
PE1 000
PE2 180
PE3 128
PE4 255
PE5 000
PE6 255
PE7 255

Any HELP will be greatly appreciated!

 

Those are instrument cluster codes.. You can't get powertrain ect DTC's through the cluster.. If you don't have a reader, or available scan tool, you can usually have the code/s read at one of the parts vendors like Autozone for free...