What Does a P0171 Chevy Code Mean?
- P0171 definition: Bank 1 has too much air or not enough fuel – This will typically trigger your Check Engine Light
- Issue Severity: MODERATE– Extended driving with this problem code can cause internal engine damage.
- Repair Urgency: Get this trouble code fixed as soon as possible to avoid damage to spark plugs, pistons, and catalytic converters.
- Diagnosis: It is important to complete the entire diagnostic process when diagnosing the Chevrolet P0171 code. Many people will replace the air-fuel sensor or oxygen sensor as soon as they get a bad reading, but the root cause can also be a dirty or faulty mass airflow sensor or vacuum leak, thus causing the O2 or MAF sensor to read differently to compensate. Use the FIXD Sensor and app to diagnose and fix P0171 yourself, see the most likely fix and cost for your Chevrolet, access our Mechanic Hotline, and more.
- One of the top 5 most common causes of a check engine light in 31 out of the 59 Chevrolet models we have data on.
Combustion engines run most efficiently when they maintain an air-fuel mixture ratio of 14.7 parts air to 1 part fuel. If this ratio is off, it can make your engine throw off a few different codes. For our purposes, we’ll talk about just 2 codes: P0171 and P0172 – which are triggered by malfunctions in engine bank 1.
Too much fuel and/or too little air results in the engine running rich setting a P0172 trouble code, while too little fuel and/or too much air results in the engine running lean resulting in a check engine light for the P0171 code.
The lean condition can be caused by a vacuum leak, which introduces more air into the air-fuel mixture, or by a weak fuel system, which does not input enough fuel into the air-fuel mixture. To keep the engine running properly, the powertrain control module (PCM) tries to compensate for the lean condition by injecting more fuel to the mixture in an effort to maintain the proper 14.7:1 ratio. With a large enough vacuum leak, the engine may not be capable of providing enough fuel to maintain the proper ratio. If this causes the Bank 1 system to run lean, the P0171 code is triggered.
P0171 Causes
- Faulty or dirty mass airflow sensor
- Vacuum leaks – PCV hoses, vacuum hoses, intake manifold gasket.
- Weak fuel pump
- Clogged or dirty fuel injectors
- Clogged fuel filter
- Exhaust leak
- Faulty oxygen sensor
- Faulty air-fuel ratio sensor
P0171 Symptoms
- Check Engine Light is on or flashing
- Lack of power from the engine
- Rough idle
- Engine “coughing” or misfiring
- Tip of spark plugs are white
- Commonly associated with error code: P0174
How Do I Fix Code P0171?
With a Chevrolet P0171 code, the first step is to get it properly diagnosed to figure out what is causing the engine to run lean in Bank 1. Using the live data function of the FIXD sensor and app allows you to read and analyze fuel trims to properly diagnose a P0171 Chevy code.
> Click here to get FIXD for $19.99 for a limited time!
If your engine is running lean Bank 1 and you’re not comfortable diagnosing this issue at home, we recommend finding a RepairPal-certified shop to pinpoint the problem and give an accurate estimate for repairs.
These shops can not only help you figure out what’s going wrong before you waste time and money on the wrong parts, but they also offer a minimum 12-month, 12,000-mile warranty and stand behind all their estimates with guaranteed fair pricing.
How Much Does It Cost to Fix Code P0171?
If you take your car to a shop for diagnosis, most shops will start with an hour of “diag time” (the time spent in labor diagnosing your specific issue). Depending on the shop’s labor rate, this typically costs somewhere between $75-$150. Many, if not most, shops will apply this diagnosis fee to any required repairs if you have them perform the repairs for you. From there, a shop will be able to give you an accurate estimate for repairs to fix your P0171 code.
Possible Repair Costs for P0171
When it comes to making repairs associated with the Chevrolet P0171 code, one or more of the below repairs may be needed to solve the underlying issue causing bank 1 to run lean. For each possible repair, the estimated cost of repair includes the cost of the relevant parts and the cost of labor required to make the repair.
- Vacuum leak $100-$200
- Clean MAF $100
- Replace MAF $300
- Fuel Pump $1300-$1700
- Fuel pressure regulator $200-$400
- Exhaust repair $100-$200 (if welded to repair)
- Air fuel sensor or oxygen sensor $200-$300
DIY Steps to Diagnose Code P0171
If you’d like to try to fix trouble code P0171 at home without throwing money at parts, you’ll want to follow the steps below for proper diagnosis. Keep in mind this is an intermediate-level diagnosis and repair and not recommended for beginners. Diagnosis requires more specialized equipment beyond what the FIXD Sensor can provide and it can be a time and labor-intensive process for inexperienced DIYers.
DIY difficulty level: Intermediate
This repair requires mechanical knowledge and is not recommended for beginners.
Tools/parts needed (our top picks from Amazon):
STEP 1: USE FIXD TO ENSURE NO OTHER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODES ARE PRESENT
Use FIXD to scan your vehicle to verify the Chevrolet P0171 code is the only DTC present. If other OBDII codes are present, they must be addressed first.
STEP 2: INSPECT VACUUM LINES.
Inspect all vacuum lines and hoses for leaks, and make sure they are properly connected. If a leak is present, you will hear a hissing air sound, though it may be difficult to hear with the engine running. If you suspect a vacuum leak is letting air in but you are having trouble finding it, check out this detailed guide to finding vacuum leaks.
STEP 3: INSPECT MAF SENSOR (Mass Air Flow Sensor)
Remove the mass airflow sensor and clean the sensor using mass air flow cleaner or contact cleaner.
> How to clean your MAF sensor
STEP 4: INSPECT EXHAUST SYSTEM
Check the exhaust system components for leaks before the Air Fuel Ratio Sensors or Oxygen sensors; if you find any leaks have them repaired. Exhaust leaks can usually be spotted visually by a buildup of soot in the general vicinity of the leak.
STEP 5: CHECK FUEL PRESSURE
Low fuel pressure can throw off the air-fuel mixture ratio, and this is commonly caused by the fuel injectors in bank 1 and / or the fuel pressure regulator to the fuel pump. Either can cause less fuel, resulting in Bank 1 running lean.
- Check fuel injectors: Make sure the fuel injectors are functioning properly and activating. Random misfires can be a sign of faulty or clogged fuel injectors that need to be replaced. Also, check that the fuel injector wiring is not damaged and is connected properly.
> How to check fuel injectors by ear
> How to check fuel injectors with a digital multimeter
STEP 6: REPLACE AIR-FUEL AND/OR O2 SENSORS
At this point if the problem code still persists you may want to consider replacing your A/F sensor or O2 sensors.
Oxygen sensors are an integral part in making sure the proper amount of fuel is sent to the cylinder to be ignited. Too little fuel, as we’ve covered, can cause this problem code.
Typically, the air-to-fuel ratio is managed by the ECU , which implements short-term fuel trim. The ECU controls how much fuel to send to the cylinders in reaction to the changes in Oxygen levels in the exhaust. When an O2 sensor breaks it can cause the engine run lean or rich (lean in Engine Bank 1 the case of a P0171 code).
STEP 7: INSPECT AND REPLACE SPARK PLUGS
After you repair the cause of your P0171 code, inspect the spark plugs. If there is a white haze or crust on the tip of the spark plugs (near the diode that screws into the engine), then you should replace all of the spark plugs.
Common P0171 Diagnosis Mistakes
It is important to complete the entire diagnostic process when diagnosing P0171. Many people will replace the air-fuel sensor or O2 sensor as soon as they get a bad reading, but the root cause of bank 1 running lean is often a dirty or faulty mass airflow sensor or vacuum leak, thus causing the O2 or A/F sensor to read differently to compensate. Reading and analyzing fuel trims and the freeze frame data is the key to properly diagnosing an engine running lean. Fuel trim values being positive would indicate the ECU increased the amount of fuel provided, while negative values indicate the ECU decreased the amount of fuel.
Still Need Help Fixing Code P0171 or Other OBDII Codes?
If you’ve followed the steps above and are still experiencing a lean engine condition and code P0171, please contact the FIXD Mechanic Hotline if you’re a FIXD Premium subscriber or find a RepairPal certified shop near you to get the right repairs at a fair price. Don’t have a FIXD Sensor yet? Click here to get yours for just $19.99, including a free 14-day trial of FIXD Premium!
Popular Engine Codes P0420 P0172 P0171 P0128 P0300 P0456 P0430 P0442 P0455 P0113
Or check out our Diagnostic Trouble Codes Directory if you don’t see your code in the list of popular codes above.
The Chevy Silverado & Other Chevy Check Engine Lights
If you’ve got a Silverado, check out our article on the best and worst years of the Chevy Silverado. You can see the most common codes along with other helpful data based insights about repairs and reliability.
We also have an article about codes that commonly cause check engine lights in Silverados.
Or if you are curious about the most common codes that cause chevy check engine lights as a whole, check out:
Chevrolet Check Engine Light | Top 5 Causes for Each Mode
Fixed It But The Check Engine Light Is Still On?
Check engine light sometimes need to be reset manually, check out our article:
How to Reset Your Check Engine Light | 4 Ways To Clear It (With or Without a Scanner)
Lifelong automotive enthusiast with a soft spot for offroading. Wrencher turned writer, but I still love to tinker on just about anything with an engine. Dream car: tie between a ‘71 Hemi ‘Cuda and a ’91 GMC Syclone. #GirlDad #SaveTheManuals
