Check Engine Light
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Joined: Mar 2002
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Check Engine Light
lright, it's now happened to me. My "Check Engine Light" has come on. I have a 97 4.6 with 115,000 miles. I don't have access to a diagnostics tester intown except for Ford, and I hear they charge $80 just for the test. What are the common things to check? I cut a whole in the air box a few months ago to allow for more air, but I checked to intake and it didn't look dirty. Any help will be appreciated.
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Jax, FL
I do a LOT of these tests for free at work. First, try resetting your computer. Car manufacters program these CEL's to come on at a certain mileage so that you will bring your car in, they reset it for you, and charge you two hours of labor. To reset your computer, disconnect the neg. battery terminal, turn headlight switch on for approx. 5 minutes, then reconnect.
If that doesn't work, do the basic tune up. Plugs, wires, filters, and clean your intake sensors. You didn't say whether this step has been done recently. Either way, it isn't THAT expensive and can help anyway.
From experience, most of these, with that kind of mileage, will throw an O2 sensor code. Can't tell you which one it will be for sure without doing a diagnostic, and usually, there is no way to tell. I don't know about the OBD II ports, but on 94 and previous, which used the OBD I, you could refer to your tech manual about which pin holes to use, but there was a way you could use a gym clip to "jumper" two ports and count codes. This is one way you could diagnose the OBD I vehicles.
Also, I don't know where you are from, but at AutoZone's here in the southeast, we do diagnostics for free.
Hope this info helps!
If that doesn't work, do the basic tune up. Plugs, wires, filters, and clean your intake sensors. You didn't say whether this step has been done recently. Either way, it isn't THAT expensive and can help anyway.
From experience, most of these, with that kind of mileage, will throw an O2 sensor code. Can't tell you which one it will be for sure without doing a diagnostic, and usually, there is no way to tell. I don't know about the OBD II ports, but on 94 and previous, which used the OBD I, you could refer to your tech manual about which pin holes to use, but there was a way you could use a gym clip to "jumper" two ports and count codes. This is one way you could diagnose the OBD I vehicles.
Also, I don't know where you are from, but at AutoZone's here in the southeast, we do diagnostics for free.
Hope this info helps!
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5
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From: Central Ca.
Had the same problem, the light would go on and off for a few hours, days. Just when ever it wanted too...finally the dealer found a bad O2 Sensor. End of problem. It also would have an intermittent miss at idle that would dissapear if you shut the key and restarted.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 142
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From: New Mexico
I had the same problem a few weeks ago. I decided to switch from 86 to 88 octane gas from another gas station. After about 1/2 a tank, the light turned off and has remained off ever since. Might not be a simple as this, but might be worth a try.
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 42
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From: Vermont
Originally posted by mg175150
I had the same problem a few weeks ago. I decided to switch from 86 to 88 octane gas from another gas station. After about 1/2 a tank, the light turned off and has remained off ever since. Might not be a simple as this, but might be worth a try.
I had the same problem a few weeks ago. I decided to switch from 86 to 88 octane gas from another gas station. After about 1/2 a tank, the light turned off and has remained off ever since. Might not be a simple as this, but might be worth a try.
The light will shut it's self off after a certain amount of time if the problem that caused it is only happening intermittently. Probably has nothing to do with the gas. The code should still be stored in the computer.
Rob
