my van started to pop and hesitate to go, so I scanned it and it came up with a p0171 code that means lean on bank 1. I checked a lot of things and decided to put a fuel filter on it but it didn't solve the problem. so I took it to a shop with hi ratings. they said I needed a new fuel pressure regulator and new spider injectors. so I said go ahead and fix it. then they called me and said I needed an intake cleans and all together it cost $1200.00 to get fixed. it has 209,000 miles on it and I thought that it should be done and gave them the go ahead. they called and said it was all fixed and running better then ever. by the time I got home and parked it I noticed a little tiny bite of smoke out the tail pipe. it was late and didn't think much about it because it was running way better. but the next morning I started it up and it smoked white smoke out the tail pipe for about 30 seconds ran rough, smoothed out and ran fine. then the next day it was a minute for that to happen. so I called the shop and they said keep an eye on it that it was probably burning off the left over cleaner. the next day I started it and it smoked for 15 minutes, then cleared up and ran fine. the next day I started it up and no smoke came out, and ran fine. when I got home I wanted to check my coolant to make sure I was not burning coolant and it was full. the next day I started it to go to work and it was running really bad. I called the shop and told them what was going on and they said bring it back and they would take care of it. so I did. I dropped it off on a Monday and they called me on Friday morn to tell me that all the sudden my 2 upper o2 sensors suddenly went out all on there own, and it would be another $800.00 to get fixed. I asked would this fix the problem? they said it would fix the problem 110%, and I had nothing to worrie about. so I said do it. then I thought, this is not sounding rite. so I called other Tech's and all 3 said they messed up my intake cleans. I then got a call from the shop and they said my cats and muffler was clogged all on there own. they bypassed my cats put a new muffler on it and said it was good to go. but I needed new plugs and my wires where the wrong wires. but 30 days ago I put brand new wires on it that gm calls for ac delco's factory wires. and my spark plugs I put in 5 years ago were 100 thousand mile plugs . the higher priced spark plugs. those spark plugs only have 30,000 miles on them. I paid $2500.00 for my van to get fixed and when I got it back it was still running really bad with the original p0171 code. can someone give me some advise please, they wont fix anything without more money and they say its all my fault!
You need to find another mechanic ASAP, these guys are no good. Look at your fuel trims with your scanner. If it's throwing a code for lean, then you should see it running with a high positive number on the side it says is running lean. That's usually an indicator of a vacuum leak if it's on one side, or the fuel injectors could be dirty. Look for missing vacuum hoses and reconnect or replace any that are brittle, and check for vacuum leaks with carb cleaner around the intake manifold. The engine speed will change if you spray a leak with the cleaner. Also clean your MAF sensor and throttle body if you haven't done that yet. Intake cleaner shouldn't be burning for several days in a row, A LOT of air goes in your engine in even a couple miles' drive and it gets pretty hot in there, it should have cleared out on your first drive home. Check that your radiator itself is full, not just the reservoir, and get one of those testers with the blue chemical for your radiator and to check for a blown head gasket.
thanks Justin I'll look into that and let you know
Check for a blown head gasket.
It's not smoking, the radiator is full, and the oil is normal, and not milky. would that mean the head gasket is ok?
Ostensibly, yes, but without a dye test or a compression test you don't know for sure.
Thanks doc, I'll check and get back to you!