Engine Error codes

[lfahey]

Hi Everyone, Just bought a 97 Cobra. Love the car but the engine light came on as I drove it home the day i bought it. (Seller is not responding to me) I licensed it and had the emissions tested. Needless to say it failed. I had 2 lean codes and an o2 code. I took the car to a local Ford dealer. They found the MAF sensor bad and a o2 sensor in bank 2 bad. Plus one plug wire was shorting out. Had a burn hole in it That cost me a $1000. Then after they replaced the parts I was informed that the PCM (Computer) was bad. The service rep explianed that the problem with the MAF and or o2 sensor must have been bad for a long time and "burned" the code into the computer and it could not be cleared. Now, I am a computer geek, but know nothing about car computers. Its costing me another $500 to replace... The engine light still comes on after they replaced the MAF and o2 sensor. DO I really need to replace the PCM or am I being taken for a ride.

Many Thanks
Lance

 

[BensBACobra]

Does your state have a lemon law? Did you buy it from a private seller or a car lot?

 

[1999SVTVert]

Wow- I would have pressed the issue with the seller before dropping a grand at the dealership.

I have never heard of a PCM having a "bad" code burned into it. If the PCM is working correctly, it should resample each sensor and adjust accordingly. It certainly could be bad, though. If the PCM truly needs replacing, I would do it myself instead of pay the dealership labor for it. Easy to do.

Do you have access to a code reader? If not, swing by an Autozone and have them pull the codes for you. Should be free.