Charging issues. (1 Viewer)

[wulffcruiser]

I have read through threads looking for a solution to my problem. I have had intermittent charging system issues for multiple weeks. I replaced alternator and battery. Serpentine belt is in fair condition but making no noise. I checked mass airflow sensor and it looks brand new. Gas cap is new. All connections into HO2 upstream and downstream look like they are in good condition.
There was a slight smell of melting/burning yesterday, but can find nothing melted or scorched. Yesterday it starts dying at idle, the tach is bouncing around at low rpm before it dies. All my dash lights came on and off this morning intermittently and then the vehicle died again in the middle of the road. Got it back to the house and now it’s actually putting out codes. I get,
-P0038 HO2 Heater Control Circuit High Bank 1 Sensor 2
-P0058 HO2 Heater Control Circuit High Bank 2 Sensor 2
And
Mass Airflow Circuit A range/performance
Any ideas? Do you think it just needs HO2 sensors? It’s stressing me out.

I have also read that the downstream sensors really don’t matter and that the upstream sensors are the vital ones. Is this correct?

 

[CarGuyCarl]

It seems like you have a MAF problem. Either with the sensor itself, or possibly the connector.

I had a whole host of admittedly different issues, (rich codes both banks) and it turned out to be my MAF connector.

I think I would recommend starting by either replacing the MAF or connector. Connector is cheap and easy.

 

[wulffcruiser]

It seems like you have a MAF problem. Either with the sensor itself, or possibly the connector.

I had a whole host of admittedly different issues, (rich codes both banks) and it turned out to be my MAF connector.

I think I would recommend starting by either replacing the MAF or connector. Connector is cheap and easy.

Thanks! I’ve got the connector ordered at napa. I’ll clean the MAF sensor

 

[wulffcruiser]

The connector I ordered was for a denso MAF sensor and I have the Hitachi. Plug is different. Part ordered. In the meantime I thought I would clean the sensor and the plug to make sure it was not that.

Clean connector and maf sensor.
Start car, codes show MAF flow A circuit
Start car again, no codes.
Drive around block
Stop and turn off car.
Wait ten minutes.
Start up again, have battery light.
Shows no codes
Fuel at half tank, Range shows 0.0
Turn on lights and display. Fifteen seconds and the dash is lit up again.
Vehicle dies in driveway.
Shows no codes.

I’ll start with replacing the plug tomorrow and then see what happens.

 

[wulffcruiser]

UPDATE:
Died after running for 10 minutes. Was headed uphill and thought that a number of these times I have lost power heading uphill. Went back and made sure all my intake was nice and tight. Took the tube off the throttle body. The plate was difficult to move and has not been cleaned maybe ever. I cleaned it as well as I could in the Dillons parking lot last night and got it back to the house. After cleaning, it pulled a new code.
P0308 Misfire on Cylinder 8. This morning I replaced the spark plug and coil on cylinder 8. ODB diagnostics shows no misfire on any cylinder. MAF in correct tolerances. ODB shows all O2 sensors are functioning correctly. I really hope this is what it was. That throttle body was glued shut. Couldn’t believe she could breathe at all.
Spark plug comparison and some of the rags I used on the throttle body.

 

[Hardazclay]

My two cents is that you have an electrical gremlin and those codes are random symptoms not the cause. Out of curiosity have you cleaned or power washed your engine bay recently? I dread these kind of issues the most because it can be hard to narrow down, expensive and demoralizing if you keep throwing parts at it. Best of luck.

 

[wulffcruiser]

My two cents is that you have an electrical gremlin and those codes are random symptoms not the cause. Out of curiosity have you cleaned or power washed your engine bay recently? I dread these kind of issues the most because it can be hard to narrow down, expensive and demoralizing if you keep throwing parts at it. Best of luck.

I haven’t cleaned the engine bay recently and honestly not at all. Always worries me doing that. I’ve started to replace the vacuum lines that I can get to. They all need replaced anyway. Hopefully I change one out and it’s a fix. Worst time of the year to get into my mechanic. So, the truck sits in the garage.