Cel ?
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From: HOUSTON,TX
Cel ?
A friend has a 1999 F150 with the 4.2 and had changed his plugs and wires and shortly afterward the CEL came on and is drinking gas like crazy. He tried resetting the comp. by disconnecting the neg. and turning on the lights and it still is on, Nobody around him to read the code without charging an arm and leg so any thoughts on things to check before spending the money to have the code read?
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Under the flightpath of old ORD 22R
KT,
What would I suggest, buy a ODB II Scanner.
There are the ones that cost ~ $ 200.00 and can read and clear one at a time multiple codes. Then there are the ones that cost ~ 40.00 to 50.00 and only read, no clear ability.
I have seen the cheaper Actron Code readers at Sears Hardware ( For what I seem to recall more then MSRP ), or you can order it from Actron. Watch which one is on the shelf, if it is a ODB II scanner or a pre ODB II scanner. There might still be some pre ODB II scanners hanging around.
There is a generic ODB II code reader at Harborfreight for 39.99, but I have never tried it, so I don't know anything about it, but all it has to do is read the code from the PCM.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=46030
If you have an AutoZone near by you, they advertise that they read codes for free, in hopes of getting the parts business. Just get the code itself and come back for some diag, don't take thier advice on what it is. Usually everything from PepBoys is an O2 sensor ( even if it isn't ), so becareful with getting advice from parts stores ( don't know if AutoZone is the same as PepBoys ).
Long story short, don't waste the time trying anything until you have the code number. Else it can be an expensive and time consuming adventure for nothing.
What would I suggest, buy a ODB II Scanner.
There are the ones that cost ~ $ 200.00 and can read and clear one at a time multiple codes. Then there are the ones that cost ~ 40.00 to 50.00 and only read, no clear ability.
I have seen the cheaper Actron Code readers at Sears Hardware ( For what I seem to recall more then MSRP ), or you can order it from Actron. Watch which one is on the shelf, if it is a ODB II scanner or a pre ODB II scanner. There might still be some pre ODB II scanners hanging around.
There is a generic ODB II code reader at Harborfreight for 39.99, but I have never tried it, so I don't know anything about it, but all it has to do is read the code from the PCM.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=46030
If you have an AutoZone near by you, they advertise that they read codes for free, in hopes of getting the parts business. Just get the code itself and come back for some diag, don't take thier advice on what it is. Usually everything from PepBoys is an O2 sensor ( even if it isn't ), so becareful with getting advice from parts stores ( don't know if AutoZone is the same as PepBoys ).
Long story short, don't waste the time trying anything until you have the code number. Else it can be an expensive and time consuming adventure for nothing.
Last edited by SSCULLY; Apr 28, 2003 at 11:52 AM.
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From: Iowa
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 10,511
Likes: 10
From: Under the flightpath of old ORD 22R
Originally posted by billman
Check how to do it here
Check how to do it here
Doesn't look like a ODB II Connector on the page, and the code numbers are not what ODB II would be.
Just a question, never tried it on a ODB II truck.