What Is the P051B Code?
Symptoms
Causes
Seriousness
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Difficulty of Inspecting
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The P051B code indicates that something has gone wrong with your crankcase pressure sensor circuit. This sensor indicates how much pressure is building up inside the engine, as the crankcase is the central component housing the main elements of your engine. If there is an issue with this sensor, then your powertrain control module (PCM) may not be able to tell whether the crankcase pressure is too high or low, which can result in serious issues surrounding your vehicle’s gaskets and general seals.
More About the P051B Code
The P051B code indicates that there’s a specific problem with the crankcase pressure sensor circuit, not that the actual pressure within the crankcase has exceeded a specific level. That means you may receive the P051B code even if your vehicle is running completely normally. You should still treat this code as serious because the problem can start after the sensor circuit starts malfunctioning.
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What Are the Symptoms of a P051B Code?
Symptoms of the P051B code are common, starting with the check engine light being illuminated. It’s also very common to experience severe fuel economy issues, with a lower gas mileage than usual and a strong smell of fuel through the exhaust. The exhaust may also pump out black smoke and soot. Additionally, you might notice that the engine is idling roughly or that the engine oil just generally seems sludgy.
What Are Some Causes of a P051B Code?
There are many, many possible causes for a P051B code. It may be due to an electrical issue within the Crankcase Pressure Sensor, because of physical or electrical damage to the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve, clogs within the PCV system as a whole, or even water intrusion in the crankcase. One of the more fixable potential causes is if your engine is overfilled with oil, which can clog the system until you drain it.
How Serious Is the P051B Code?
The P051B code should be considered fairly serious overall. If the PCM is unable to determine the accurate pressure within the crankcase, then it’s more likely that pressure will build up too high, potentially damaging seals and gaskets, as well as negatively impacting your vehicle’s ability to recycle combustible fumes into the engine again. The P051B code is an important code that may indicate a serious problem, which is why you should talk to an expert about it as soon as you notice it.
Can I Still Drive with a P051B Code?
In most cases, you will be able to physically drive your vehicle if the P051B code is active. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s okay to just keep driving your vehicle with no care for the check engine light. It’s best to bring it to an expert to fix the problem. Not only does this code have the capacity to seriously injure your crankcase and anything connected to it, but it will also negatively impact your vehicle’s fuel economy, meaning that it might actually be cheaper just to fix the problem.
How Easy Is It to Diagnose a P051B Code?
Diagnosis for this code can be incredibly difficult simply because of how rare it is. It’s mostly found in late-model Fords and rarely found in any other vehicles. That means you’re unlikely to have previous experience with it, and making a mistake in such a critical part of the vehicle can lead to serious repercussions for the engine’s long-term health. Plus, because there are so many disparate causes, you might need to do a lot more work than you would expect. Most experts will recommend against trying to diagnose this code yourself.
How Difficult Is It to Inspect a P051B Code?
Inspection of a critical element of the vehicle, such as the crankcase, can be very difficult. Not only do you need to know how to handle the crankcase itself, but also you should understand what the likely problem is, as well as what everything should look like when it’s functioning normally. This is why most experts will recommend that you talk to a professional to fix your P051B code instead of trying to handle the problem all by yourself.
Need Additional Help with Your P051B Code?
This code often needs specialized equipment and knowledge to fix it, especially because it’s a very rare code. If you’re seeing this code, then it’s likely that you’re going to need additional help, which you can find in a variety of places.
First of all, check out KBB to find a repair shop in your area. The service center locator is a great first stop for anyone who’s looking for a local professional who can help with this.
Second, you can look at the KBB OBD-II database to get more insight into any other codes that you may have seen as a result of this code. It can help you understand more about the code and the problem that you’re really experiencing.
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