error code p0420, and p0452. What are the possible causes? Are they related to one another? Is there an inexpensive solution?
The car hesitates at initial acceleration. Power flattens out when driving on
freeway. Need to pass smog real soon. I had a minor tune up recently and van
ran better for a short period. Check engine light came back on.
They can be related in one specific set of circumstances. If the truck also wants to idle low or die at stops you probably have the vapor management valve under the hood sticking open. It will allow excess vacumn from the engine to pull on the gas tank and suck fuel vapors at the wrong time. If its stuck open it the extra fuel in the vapors can cause loss of initial throttle and stalls at stops along with reduction of catalyst efficiency. It's pretty easy to check, if it's off the vehicle and you can blow through it then its bad as it's a normally close valve. The Ford base part number for it is 9C915
Thanks Guy, Thats helpful. Nobody has mentioned a Vapor management Valve yet. Where under the hood might I find it? The stuck open sounds like a possibility. This may be the cause of the catalyst code... ?
It should be tucked under the cowling passenger side engine compartment.
