ok,

i have a 98 extended V-8 with about 120000 on it and the check engine light came on about 2 months ago! so i did the battery reset on it and it stayed off! about a 1 month ago the light came on again! and once again the light stayed off again. until now! 1 month later! now, i know that i need a new battery! could a almost dead weak battery cause my check engine light to come on! i am going to the dealer (only place i can get on) after work to pick up a new motocraft battery! I hope that is the prob but i think it is only wishfull thinking! The check enging light is not blinking or giving off a code! it is constant and does not blink in any way! The truck runs great still and has no visable or noticable problems! proly could use a transmission fluid change! but i don't trust anyone around where i am at to do that! my mom trans went out after she had hers changed and so did my brothers! one went to dealer and other when to local mechanic!

well any help would be greatful!

bigNAnative

 

First and foremost, the check engine light doesn’t come on from a dead battery. It's controlled by the computer and it doesn’t blink out a code like the 95 and earlier check engine lights in diagnostic mode. Disconnecting the battery clears the code and the computer will relearn your idle/driving style and run through the various cycles in order to test all systems. Once those tests are performed, the code will trip the light again. There is definitely something causing the code, so I suggest having it pulled and start from there.

PS, even though you have a Motorcraft battery that may say 8 year warranty, your dealer is only going to warrant it for the standard 3-36 unless you bought it from their parts counter or you are lucky enough to have it covered in an extended warranty.

 

Figured it wasn't the battery!

i will get my code read and then go from there!

what is a good battery to use other than OEM

I know Die Hard is pretty good
and the Optima

but i think the only thing sold in parts stores around here are the Excide batteries! Never had one of them! what do you suggest!

 

IMHO Exide batterys are just as good as any other. Have had several that far outlived their warranty period by a long shot.

tom

 

that is assuming your battery even needs to be replaced...

For now I would just pull your codes (if there is an autozone near you, they will pull them for free, and you can ask here for the information the codes tell you).

Worry about your battery later, or unless you have other reasons (other than your CEL comes on) to believe it needs to be replaced.

 

OK

Got my code checked! it is PO171 System too lean ( Bank 1) the guy at Checker said it was my O2 sensor but didn't know which side! is the bank 1 on the driver side or the passenger side! and how hard is it to change one! is it something i can do myself! or can they be cleaned!

let me know!

 

The attached thread has some ofthe best info on PO171. The two major ideas are to clean the MAF and check for a vaccuum leak on the hose.

PO171

 

Bank 1 is on the same side as number 1 cylinder. This would put that the passenger side of the motor.

tom

 

I had the code cleared by the guy at the checker and it hasn't came back on! I think it is just a dirty MAFS, going to go the cleaning and checking route! I don't think the sensor is Broke if it doesn't come right back on again! i would get the same reading right! I Hope that the cleaning of the MAFS and checking all my hoses is the only problem!

bigNAnative