Ford: Contour - Rotten Egg Smell, rotten egg smell, air flow rate

Question
Ragu,

The sensors are not crossed.

Also, I purchased a scanner/logger called carchip e/x. There are several parameters that can be measured such as

RPM
Throttle position
Engine load
Fuel pressure
Fuel system status
Short- and long-term-fuel trim
Battery voltage
Timing advance
Coolant temperature
Air flow rate
Intake air temperature
Intake manifold pressure
Oxygen sensor voltage  

Which ones can I log to help determine the problem?
Can you also send me the vacumm leak pinpoint test?


Thanks for your help,

Julio
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Followup To
Question -
Ragu,

Where are these O2 sensors located? How many are there?

The cat has been replaced and I'm still getting the rotten egg smell but not as strong as before.

Thanks,

Julio


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Followup To
Question -
Ragu,

I had the cat replaced and they showed me how the cat had a lot of carbon residue from entry to exit (the shop said more than avg and usually not at end of cat)). Can you send me the pinpoint test for vacumm leak? Anything else I should try?


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Followup To
Question -
Ragu,

The CEL is on and the code is P0420. The cel came on after driving 800+ miles. I took it to the dealership and they said it was the bank 1 cat. I'm having it replaced. Could this have been the cause of the rotten egg smell? I also had the smell after the cats were replaced back in oct-2004. Or was the EGR sensor malfunction and the carbon build up that caused the smell and the damaging of the cat? What should I do if the smell is still occurs after the cat (bank 1) is replaced?

Thanks for your help!

Julio
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Followup To
Question -
Model:1996 Contour, V6, 112K miles, automatic, fuel injected

History:
Had Bank 1&2 Cats replaced a year ago (Nov 2003)
CEL came on with code P0420 (Oct-2004)
Replaced Bank 1&2 cats again (OCT-2004)- Shop said they were contaminated
CEL came on (code P0420) after about 800 mi of replacing cats
Dianogstics showed car running rich then lean and back and forth
Replaced spark plugs (signs of car running rich)
CEL back after about 700 mi
PCM reflashed
CEL back after about 700 mi
Fuel Injectors Cleaned
Throttle body/plate cleaned
Air intake cleaned
EGR sensor replaced

There has been a rotten egg smell for about a year. Drive it, come to a complete stop and smell starts
CEL always comes on while at low or idle speeds
The auto repair shop tell me that it may not be the cats, the dealership told me that the bad EGR sensor and the carbon build up was causing the cat converter to get extremely hot.

Other than the CEL and the bad smell, it runs fine.

What is causing the rotten egg smell? Help!
Thanks


Answer -
is the ck eng light on now? what  are the codes #
Answer -
I would have them ck for vacumm leaks or a bad MAF sensor.because ford cats ever go bad.if you want i could send you a pinpoint test and you could try to fix it yourself .let me know
Answer -
HF1 DTCs P0420, P0421, P0430 or P0431: CHECK FOR MISFIRE MONITOR DTCS
Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC) P0420 and P0421 indicate that bank 1 catalyst system efficiency is below the acceptable threshold.

Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC) P0430 and P0431 indicate that bank 2 catalyst system efficiency is below the acceptable threshold.

NOTE 1: Complete the spark timing check in Quick Test before proceeding with this test step. Spark timing retarded below specification may increase exhaust gas temperature and decrease catalyst efficiency over time.

NOTE 2: Be sure customer has not:

Refueled vehicle with leaded gasoline.
Experienced high vehicle oil consumption.
NOTE 3: If entering this Pinpoint Test for symptoms only, go immediately to HF5 .

NOTE 4: Internal deterioration of a catalytic converter is usually caused by abnormal engine operation upstream of the catalyst. Events that may produce higher than normal temperatures in the catalyst are particularly suspect. For example, misfiring can cause higher than normal catalyst operating temperatures.

Possible causes:

Use of leaded fuel.
Oil contamination.
Cylinder misfiring.
Damaged HO2S.
Damaged ECT sensor.
Downstream HO2S wires improperly connected.
Fuel pressure too high.
Damaged exhaust system pipe.
Damaged exhaust manifold.
Damaged muffler/tail-pipe assembly.
Damaged catalytic converter.
Key on, engine off.
Retrieve and record all Continuous Memory DTCs (MIL and non-MIL).
HF2 CHECK FOR HO2S MONITOR DTCS
NOTE 1: Incorrect HO2S signal input (e.g. rich/lean input signal when the engine is operating under lean/rich conditions) may cause an abnormal temperature increase in the catalyst.

NOTE 2: Non-California applications will not have an active HO2S monitor. As a result, a Catalyst Efficiency Monitor DTC can be generated for a rear HO2S concern. To check for a rear HO2S concern on these applications, go to the HO2S monitor Pinpoint Test Step H81 . If any repair actions are necessary in Pinpoint Test H , run KOER Self-Test, to verify the repair. If repair actions are not necessary, go to HF3 .

Were any of the following HO2S monitor DTCs recorded in HF1: P0136, P0138, P0140 and P0141 (Bank 1, rear HO2S) or P0156, P0158, P0160 and P0161 (Bank 2, rear HO2S)?
Note: ECT sensor DTCs can be an indication that the thermostat is not operating correctly or that the coolant level is not filled to specifications, producing above normal operating temperatures.HF5 CHECK REAR HO2S WIRING
 
Note: If the electrical connections of the rear HO2S are interchanged/crossed, the Catalyst Efficiency Monitor Test will be failed.

Inspect the wiring of each rear HO2S for proper routing and connection.
Are the HO2S wires improperly routed?
DO this first then let me know there is more it is very possable that they cross to o2sensor conectors and this could be your problem...
Answer -
follow the exhaust from the manfold down you will be able to see the o2 sensors  sticking out of the exhaust pipe.

Answer
ok you can ck fuel pressure make sure it does not go above 32 at idle ck fuel trim and short should be above +7 and  below-7.also ck maf bo should be 145 to 154. ck o2 sensor voltage it should be reading lean then  rich  0 to 5.00 v. let me look to see if i have a guide book .