My 2004 2.2 Sunfire with 130,000 miles started throwing an occasional Po171 code (Bank 1 lean) a month ago. The light would come about once a week, stay on a day or so and go out. No driveability problems were noted when it came on.
Last weekend we took a 200 mile each way road trip. On the way there, and while we were there, the car ran great and no check engine lights. When we left for the return trip the check engine light came on accelerating away from a stop sign. About 50 miles later and about the fourth stop sign later the car stalled at a stop sign. It restarted on the second attempt and ran fine down the highway about 4 miles then the tach dropped to 0 and it stalled. I coasted to the side of the road. It restarted again on the second try and we went another 5 miles down the road before it stalled again. Over the next 40 miles it stalled again about 8 more times. It always restarted on the first to third attempt. We were getting 3 to 5 miles down the road each time before it stalled. We were trying to limp the car into the next major city. About 20 miles from that city it quit stalling and drove fine the next 110 miles home.
The next day I took it to get the code read and the check engine light went off before I got to the auto parts store.
The only code stored again was Po171. I have driven the car two days since with no check engine lights or problems.
Now I am afraid to take this car out on any road trips. Any idea where I should start?
Last weekend we took a 200 mile each way road trip. On the way there, and while we were there, the car ran great and no check engine lights. When we left for the return trip the check engine light came on accelerating away from a stop sign. About 50 miles later and about the fourth stop sign later the car stalled at a stop sign. It restarted on the second attempt and ran fine down the highway about 4 miles then the tach dropped to 0 and it stalled. I coasted to the side of the road. It restarted again on the second try and we went another 5 miles down the road before it stalled again. Over the next 40 miles it stalled again about 8 more times. It always restarted on the first to third attempt. We were getting 3 to 5 miles down the road each time before it stalled. We were trying to limp the car into the next major city. About 20 miles from that city it quit stalling and drove fine the next 110 miles home.
The next day I took it to get the code read and the check engine light went off before I got to the auto parts store.
The only code stored again was Po171. I have driven the car two days since with no check engine lights or problems.
Now I am afraid to take this car out on any road trips. Any idea where I should start?
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