If You're seeing a P2196 OBD-II diagnostic code getting thrown by Your Ford Escape, it indicates a failure of the pre-catalytic converter oxygen sensor. The official technical description from Ford is "Oxygen Sensor Signal Biased/Stuck Rich Bank 1 Sensor 1". That's a fancy way of saying the sensor is seeing a too rich exhaust coming from the group of cylinders which has the cylinder numbered one. Sensor 1 itself is just before the catalytic converter. Conditions that can cause this condition include failing fuel injectors, leaks in Your intake air, vacuum leaks, and poor electrical connections or an open or shorted wiring harness. There's also a Ford Factory Service Bulletin, TSB 12-3-19, for Escapes built before March of 2011, that notes there may be a leak or stuck evaporative emission purge valve on these vehicles that cause the MIL to illuminate.
David K.
April 10, 2020
On the ford escape and many other vehicles, a p2196 code means that the computer is measuring too much fuel in the exhaust manifold, which is commonly referred to as running rich. This can happen when the computer has been reset and is in the process or re-learning the fuel maps or could indicate a much bigger problem that a trained mechanic should be tasked with.
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