Running Rich, Can't figure it out, Please help me out! Code 42 all the time!

Starscream88

New Member
Mar 8, 2003
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Park Ridge NJ
Check Engine light comes on all the time,

Same code, 42, Engine runnign rich,

I seem to be going through fuel quick (no duh lol)
and the Engine seems to be hotter than usual, Id guess from the extra fuel?
The exhaust sure is hot

This happened last week, and I dont drive the car anywhere, but its a weekend car,
The car runs fine, nothing wrong there,
But the check engine light keeps coming on and same code,

i power washed the engine last sunday after I finished installing the Gears,
Now obviously gears isn't got anything to do with this,
So I thought maybe me washing it annoyed it?

So I checked all the sensors, all the vaccum lines,
Everythings fine and connected,

What else is there that could be wrong?????

Please help :(
 
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you could try drying out all the electrical connections. open the connections and spray wd40 or use the is a spray specific for this (i don't remember the name)

but i'd still check the fuel pressure first.
 
This problem is going on guys :(
I checked my fuel pressure,
Its 32 at idle, and goes up to 40 psi when I take the vacuum line off the top of the regulator.

I have also Cleaned the Mass air, The O2 sensors, The ACT sensor, the Coolant temp sensor,
I have also taken out and cleaned the fuel rail and injector caps (The injectors have about 1500 miles on them there new)

This problem just happened all of a sudden, For no reason apparantly???

Ive tried everythihng I can think of,
I need some more options or advise,
Surley someone has had this problem?
I have re-set the computer as well,
And all the time, Code 42 Engine rich,
and the check engine light comes on all the time after about 10 mins of driving

I really need help on this as Im stuck,

Thanks
 
I had a '92 Ranger with a similar issue - it was the fuel pressure regulator. After warming up, it would run rich and go through fuel like crazy. I changed a pile of sensors before I stumbled accross a thread about the regulator. After I changed it, problem was gone and mileage returned...
 
ok I have an ajustable Fuel pressur Regulator on the way,
Should be here any day,

When the cars cold it sometimes backfires and bogs down and I have real low power. Then it has a slight backfire then full power again and everythings fine!!

Weird bloody car!

How do you test the sensors BTW to make sure there ok?
And my 02 sensors are fairley new too:(

Im obviously going to put the new fuel pressure regulator in,
What should I set my Fuel pressure at with my current mods?


Thanks for the help guys. I just really want this problem sorted asap :(
 
check to see if the blue fusible link in the reats nest of wires near the drivers side firewall is blown. it feeds power to the o2 sensors. my link went and i dint know it and the car was running pig rich for like a year. i never found it until i was doing a complete teardown. you could also just check to see if you have voltage at the sensors.
 
You can also take the o2 sensors to CrackheadZone....I mean AutoZone and they should be able to test it. They can also tell more specifically what code 42 could be. I think that I had a bad o2 sensor and pulled that code....its been a while.
 
No luck with the FPR,

Its still running rich and it stinks!
I feel light headed from it all :nice:

But now im pi$$ed as Im running out of ideas,

Code 42 has something to do with the o2's?

I checked haynes and chilton and it dosent mention o2's at all, They seem to have there own code,

And autozoo can test my current o2's?

That might help,
I set my fuel pressure to 34/35,

Ran rich, I set it to 30, Ran like crap so I put it back to 32, Then it ran rich,

I just cant win!

After about 5 to 10 mins of driving the check engine light comes on,

This is really annoying!
So everyones kinda leaning towards bad o2's? :shrug:
 
Im going to have to check the o2 suggestion out,

Ill get a set tomorrow and fingers crossed thats the problem,

I called autozone and they said they cant test o2 sensors?

There a bunch of idiots anyway so I wouldnt trust there word

i set my fuel pressure to 34/35 in the end

What exactly should I have it at for my current setup?

Anyone?
 
o2' are one of the sensors that help tell the computer what fuel curve to run at. so yes if they are bad it can cause this issue but it may also have something to do with the mass air calibration if you have upgrades your injectors or if you have changed your mass air and it doesnt match your injectors. if your car is not getting enough air that could cause a similiar prob i suppose. maybe you should call someone like alternative performance or some other stang tuning shop for advise