check eng light

[reaper121]

I've had my pt for about a month an my check eng light came on. its not under warrenty but i read the code an it came up P0551 Power Steering Pressure Sensor Circuit Range/Performance. i was just wounderin if anyone have a clue how to fix this.

[CREWZIN]

From PT Do-It-Yourself.net

I have a 2001 PT with 59.6k miles. Recently, while going to fill up with gas the engine (MIL) light on dash came on. I ran the self-tests and got this DTC - P0551, Power Steering Switch. Is this something I can fix or change out, or is it a dealer repair. I have always worked on my own cars, and rebuilt many engines in the old days. Thanks in advance. - Roger, from South Carolina.

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A DIY'er with automotive experience could probably replace the switch, if it were diagnosed as being faulty. However, as you are probably aware, DTC's are the result of a system or circuit failure, but do not always directly identify the failed component or components. Personally, I would have a diagnostic run before replacing the switch.

P0551 (M) - Power Steering Switch Failure: Incorrect input state detected for the power steering switch circuit. PL: High pressure seen at high speed.

Power steering pressure switch - A power steering pressure switch is used to improve the vehicle's idle quality. The pressure switch improves vehicle idle quality by causing a readjustment of the engine idle speed as necessary when increased fluid pressure is sensed in the power steering system.

The pressure switch functions by signaling the powertrain control module that an increase in pressure of the power steering system is putting additional load on the engine. This type of condition exists when the front tires of the vehicle are turned while the vehicle is stationary and the engine is at idle speed. When the powertrain control module receives the signal from the power steering pressure switch, it directs the engine to increase its idle speed.

This increase in engine idle speed compensates for the additional load, thus maintaining the required engine idle speed and idle quality. The power steering pressure switch is mounted directly on the backside of the power steering gear. The replacement procedure is available through the Pit area on the site.

[reaper121]

thanks man.

[PPTCruiserTE]

My check engine light came on for a short time at a cold start, I switched it into park, gunned the engine and it didn't shut off. But it may have that problem your talking about, because it idles rough and I can hear the power steering sound coming out of it (I am a total novice about cars, but my father was a master mechanic in the old days so I can learn; I am not afraid)

Also is it true with the new gas with ethanol they have out that if you mix 2 cycle oil with gas it will improve the performance and mileage because the ethanol gas lacks lubricant?

[CREWZIN]

Originally Posted by PPTCruiserTE

My check engine light came on for a short time at a cold start, I switched it into park, gunned the engine and it didn't shut off. But it may have that problem your talking about, because it idles rough and I can hear the power steering sound coming out of it (I am a total novice about cars, but my father was a master mechanic in the old days so I can learn; I am not afraid)

Also is it true with the new gas with ethanol they have out that if you mix 2 cycle oil with gas it will improve the performance and mileage because the ethanol gas lacks lubricant?

If you had the Check engine light, the computer stored a code that would help us track down the problem. Read around the forum for the explanation on how to read the computer and let us know the code that is stored.

Ethanol is added to the fuel supposedly to save money on making it. If it is low on lubricants, the other 90% of the gasoline will have enough for the engine. Do you have the link to the information on adding 2 cycle oil?

[PPTCruiserTE]

I heard it on a radio show called the Magic Mechanic here in Florida.

Here is his website: magicmechanic.com

[CREWZIN]

It seems like all the "Auto Advice" is in Multi Media format and it wants me to download something to see it. I'm on my sons computer here in Virgina and I'm not about to download anything onto it. I'm lucky he's letting me use it at all. I'll have to take a look when I return to Florida next month.

[PPTCruiserTE]

Originally Posted by CREWZIN

It seems like all the "Auto Advice" is in Multi Media format and it wants me to download something to see it. I'm on my sons computer here in Virgina and I'm not about to download anything onto it. I'm lucky he's letting me use it at all. I'll have to take a look when I return to Florida next month.

Can you give me an idea of what it MIGHT be that is causing the car to run rough for no reason. I paid over $600 for a "tune up" at the dealership which included flushing the transmission, cleaning the fuel injectors and he said the biggest most costly part of the tuneup was when he had to remove the intake manifold to get to something to do the rest of the tune up. I've taken very good care of that car so I can't figure out what it might be. I won't have it out of the body shop until the end of the week.

[CREWZIN]

First, the high price from your dealer was due to 2 reasons. One, the dealer charges about $100 an hour +or - a few dollars and 2nd, the upper manifold has to come off to change the plugs and wires. A time consuming job but shouldn't be more than 1 1/2 hours.

Can you look at the invoice the dealer gave you and see if they actually changed (and charge you for) a new set of plug wires?

They probably didn't and only changed your plugs. That would be my guess as to the rough engine. The plugs are crap and don't last very long. Most of us found that out the hard way by only changing the plugs then going back into the engine to replace the wires.

Now if they did change the wires, then they might have accidentally left one of your vacuum tubes off. That will also make everything run rough. There's a couple of vacuum tubes on the engine and one from the EGR valve. Look around for any loose wires/tubes or connections that have no tube or wire on them.

[PPTCruiserTE]

Yes, I need to ask. I will call him. The guy who worked on it remembers it and said "it wasn't anything I did, I can tell you that". The invoice is in the glove compartment so I will have to call him back or have the receptionist look it up.

Wow I had no idea! Actually it didn't happen until the weather changed (or I didn't notice it, but do seem to have notice it running louder than a new car and can't remember when that started).