Ford Repair: Engine light wont go off & car rattles, intake manifold gasket, fuel injection service

Question
2000 Ford Explorer Limited, 55,000 miles, we are in Los Angeles, CA area thus weather is between 50 to 80 degrees these days.

We had taken the car in for service because engine light came on & car rattled...once we start the car in the morning to reverse out from garage and change gear to drive car stopped.  It only happens in the morning not during the day.  After computer systems diagnotics first mechanic found nothing wrong with the car and thus he did oil change and added BG Fluch Kits Fuel System (210-3BG) and we came back home; that was on 2/23/04.  

Now, car rattles much less in the morning but check engine light won't go off anymore since the reapir.  We took it to another mechanic and his report read as follows:  Check enigne lite is on-found code p0174 code in computer...Found lean code on right side, need fuel injection service, air filter and fuel filter are very plugged, also recommend transmission service and new spark plugs.

We wanted a second opinion and thus took to another mechanic.  According to this 3rd mechanic, what second mechanic recommended are 60,000 mile routine check up and thus not required at this time since our car only has 55,000 miles.  He suggested that something under the engine has a hole and thus air gets into this something and thus the car rattles and stops.  In order for him to dismentle and put them all back in and repair the hole, it will cost us additional $200 to $300.

I am completely lost at this point as to what to do.  Help...thank you in advance for any advise you might be able to give us.  Meehee  

Answer
Mehee, go straight to the local Ford dealer and ask them to check for a couple of recalls/owner notifications that may need to be performed.  I'm thinking the lean code on bank one is due to the intake manifold gasket leaking at the lower plenum, Ford is aware of this problem - no charge if your car is under the notification.  The rattle noise is possible a timing chain tensioner, which also covered under another recall for some Explorers, again at no charge.

After this is done, understand that outside garages can sometimes be useful but probably don't know your Ford like the dealer... and in many cases will cost you more than the dealer because they can't locate the problem as quickly.

Hope this helps...
Clay