So I tried to post about this the other night but for some reason it did not go through. I am not A new member but it has been awhile since I have had to post so my old account must have timed out.
My new to me in the last year and a half bone stock, 7.3 auto 4x4 with 298k has paused and flashed (did not stay illuminated) the CEL several times in the last week and a half. First time it did it it was warm after being driven in mixed traffic for over an hour in high 40 degree damp weather, second was on the way home 6 hours later high 50's and dry. Next time it was 40 degrees, cold start after a high 20's night, it only paused and flashed once. I took it to my buddy's garage and they pulled PO221 Switch B performance out of memory. We self tested the throttle pedal with the Snap On and it read good, cleared the stored code and I have tried driving it several times in mixed environments and have not had the problem again. Is this a sign of what is to come for the throttle pedal? Should I pull everything apart and clean and electrode grease it? How can I tell the difference between a failed throttle pedal switch and a Idle Validation switch? Where can you buy a IVS without buying the whole assembly? I have seen that you can not but find that unbelievable.
The IVS is/was very hard to find by itself. One person had found someone that did sell them, but it was a limited number and I don't think they are available anymore. The TPS should have a smooth change of resistance when cycled while the IVS would simply be ON/OFF. I've attached the pinpoint tests for P0221. Cheers!
Thank you. I will start poking around. The thing that gets me is the fact that the light does not stay on, and there is no rhyme or reason or noticeable pattern that it seems to be following. I have never had a CEL just flash on once and not stay illuminated. I this something to do with the Kind of but not 100% OBDII program that our trucks have? I know it takes like 50 cycles of a problem to illuminate a normal CEL, if the throttle does have a problem then it would have to be a random one because my foot is on and off that pedal more than 50 times everytime I drive it. I am leaning to thinking it maybe a wire or connection? It could have just been completely random and never happen again, but I was planning on taking this truck out of town this weekend and now I believe I will take my other 97 instead.
So I have driven the truck in several mixed environments over the last week and no issue.
I am thinking about buying another scanner my old actron of course does not work with this truck. I have seen the term ELM327 thrown around lately.
From the little research I have done you buy the adapter(20-30 bucks), then download the proper app, and run it trough your phone (Android in my case).
My question can you read the codes like what I had where it does not cause the CEL to stay lit?
I have used one of the adapters, namely FOSEAL around $15, with the FORScan Lite App, and it reads all the codes, does buzz test and cylinder balance test, and reads all the ICP, boost, Exhaust back pressures, and oil and coolant Temperatures, and a bunch of other data.
Awesome thanks I will check it out. UPDATE: Just bought the Foseal (E-bay $13.27 with tax). Do you buy the Forescan on Google? Like $6 or is there a better option?
Just checked it. Free for demo $6 for real for android on google apps. I have no problem spending this if it will do more than my old Actron will do (NOTHING). I am unfortunately new to this form of code reading. I have two 97 powerstrokes in the almost 13 years of owning my oldest I have never had a CEL. But the newest one has thrown me for a loop. I have always been able to pinpoint the issues on my gassers 96+ so I hate feeling helpless.
Even though I have friends with good readers I can not always get the truck to them.
Let me say if you do not have one of these already GET ONE NOW! I got the Forscan from google store like $6, and I went ahead and got the Torque Lite too like $5. The reader can be a bit finicky to get linked up using WIFI, but once up and going it is awesome. I finely was able to track down the airbag light in my 02 Explorer. And with torque Lite run my Daily driver 96 Nissan trough some tests. So far the 97 has been behaving so guess it was just a glitch.
Thanks for all the advice.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
The Diesel Stop
2.6M posts
210.8K members
Since 1999
A forum community dedicated to all Ford Diesel owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about PowerStrokes, performance, modifications, troubleshooting, towing capacity, maintenance, and more!