What can I do to fix this issue? Check engine light came on Saturday night while driving casually (speed limit). Took it in last night and got the code pulled and the guy said it says it's running too lean. Car has custom air intake and also no cat. I figured it was going to be an 02 censor, but I was wrong. Is this going to end up being a tuning issue?

 

custom air intake

That's why your throwing the code most likely.

 

Is there any way that I can fix it? Also would I notice an audible difference in my car's performance? Would it sound any different if it really is running lean? The car seems to run just fine although it says it's running lean.

 

I had this problem with my car. Replaced everything except fuel injectors , turned out to be the air filter! lol

If you have a custom intake go get it tuned .

 

One of the most important things when tuning a car is the MAF being correct. All the aftermarket intakes screw it up...everyone states to get a tune when you get one.

 

Alright cool. I will be taking my car to ZZP here in a few weeks to get it tuned . I contacted ZZP about getting the tune done, and they said it's most likely plugs (would this be referring to spark plugs? lol I'm not very educated in auto-world jargon/lingo). My friend was saying I should get better fuel injectors too. Should I do this before I go and get it tuned, and if I do, would it offer bigger gains?

 

Plugs are spark plugs. If they injector is different from stock your car will run extra crappy if you install them. Depending on what year you have (on mobile can't see sigs) and what mods you're looking at injectors may not be needed

 

Hey Ecaulk,

It's a 2008 ss. From my understanding, it has stock injectors.

 

You'll be fine with stock injectors. Replace the plugs with stock ACDelco plugs, if you can't get them locally if you're going to zzp to get tuned I'm sure they have them in stock.

Also the to lean code can be thrown for a difference between the primary and secondary o2 sensor on the LNF, P2096, I threw this code when I was re-adjusting my maf trims after getting them adjusted no issues.

 

the secondary o2 sensor is the one thats on the cat right? It is removed to my knowledge when the cat was taken off by previous owner

 

Its post Cat, I doubt it is removed, it might have a de-fouler to help prevent an emissions code. If you can safely get under your car get a pic of your downpipe

 

Is it difficult to replace plugs? I've never done it before honestly.... Also is there a way to look at plugs to see if they definitely need to be replaced?

 

Check for an intake / vaccume leak first. Epsessly if youve been running the same setup/ tune for a while before you got the code.


P0171 (System too Lean) is a code that I got occaisonaly esp if the weather was cool, and I was slowing down. I took my car to ZZP and they dialed in the tune better. So I'm good to go now.

Also, could look into fuel delivery may not be up to par. If you have low fuel pressure. I think it's suposed to be like 50 psi or something like that. I could see MAYBE a fuel injector, but that would probably throw a code for the cylinderfor a misfire IE: P301 P302 ect.

O2 Sensor maybe.

I'd start cheap first, check for a vaccume/intake leak.