Vent: Spent 3 hours chasing a vacuum leak that was just a loose hose clamp

Working on a 2002 Ford F-150 out in my driveway last Saturday. Truck was idling rough and throwing a lean code on both banks. I went through all the usual spots, pulled the intake, sprayed carb cleaner everywhere, nothing. Finally gave up and went inside for lunch. Came back out and noticed the clamp on the PCV hose was barely finger tight. Tightened it down and the truck smoothed right out. Anyone else have a simple fix that made you feel like an idiot for missing it?

2 comments

2 Comments

alice_barnes3518d ago

Ain't that always how it goes though? You chase your tail for hours when it's the simplest thing staring you right in the face. I've learned to start every vacuum leak hunt by just eyeballing every single hose clamp on the engine bay first before grabbing the carb cleaner. A loose clamp is honestly the most common cause on those 2002s with the plastic intake, so you're in good company missing it the first time. Next time it happens to you, just grab a screwdriver and give every clamp a half turn before you pull anything apart.

jake_mason3018d ago

Man I feel that in my bones. There's something about those plastic intakes that makes the clamps go loose after a heat cycle or two, and you just assume it's something way more complicated. I've definitely spent a whole afternoon pulling off the upper intake on my buddy's 2002 just to find a zip tie holding a PCV hose that had worked its way off. Now I just keep a ratchet set in the trunk specifically for tightening those clamps, saves me so much headache. It's the little stuff that gets you every time, man.