Check engine light
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Member
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: dallas
Check engine light
1998 V-8, 76k miles. This morning the check engine light came on, blinked a bit. I pulled over, turned off the engine. Waited a few minutes, started up. Light stayed on. I freeked. Last time this happened to me on a previous vehicle the timing belt snapped. Read the manual, said that possibly caused by bad gas or loose cap or some other lame thing that I doubt is the problem.
I havent had a tune up as I was a told it wont need one till 100k miles.
I read a lot in here about "codes" and have no idea what they are. Can anyone offer suggestions? Even with the light on, truck handles and drives smoothly as if nothing is wrong.
Thanks
I havent had a tune up as I was a told it wont need one till 100k miles.
I read a lot in here about "codes" and have no idea what they are. Can anyone offer suggestions? Even with the light on, truck handles and drives smoothly as if nothing is wrong.
Thanks
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 27
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From: Nfld, Canada
Chuck
The check engine light may come on for many different reasons. The only way you're gonna find the reason why it came on is to take it to a Ford dealership or autozone, etc. and have them pull the code or codes for you. They will in turn tell you what they mean and you can go from there. When you find out the code, post it here and you will get help.
BJ
The check engine light may come on for many different reasons. The only way you're gonna find the reason why it came on is to take it to a Ford dealership or autozone, etc. and have them pull the code or codes for you. They will in turn tell you what they mean and you can go from there. When you find out the code, post it here and you will get help.
BJ
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 485
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From: Central Florida
Autozone is the place to go because it's free. 
When they read the code ask them to tell you what it is (PO401 for example). They will then tell you what you need to buy from them to fix your truck. Thank them very much and get back here ASAP and tell us what the code was. We'll get you fixed up.
When they read the code ask them to tell you what it is (PO401 for example). They will then tell you what you need to buy from them to fix your truck. Thank them very much and get back here ASAP and tell us what the code was. We'll get you fixed up.
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: dallas
Thank you!
Thank you gentlemen!I will hit auto zone today at lunch and be back then!
Now, what do you know about stuck cd magazines in the cd changer....? I have a posting there in the audio forum also.
Damn glad I found this sight!
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 485
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From: Central Florida
My CD player has been jammed for almost 2 years now, that I know of. It's been stuck since I bought the truck used. 
One of these days I'll take the panel off and take the unit apart (That's what you have to do 
) and fix it. It's jammed because someone put a disc in upside down.
One of these days I'll take the panel off and take the unit apart (That's what you have to do ) and fix it. It's jammed because someone put a disc in upside down.
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: oak harbor, wa / brookings, or
hey chuck,
if you check this site regularly, you'll know your in the mileage rang that it's probly tune up time! most of us have had miss fire #4, lean fuel mixture both left and right side, and an ignition pig under heavy load (pulling a steep hill) or at higher rpm's. with or without the check engine lite. mine started around 60,000 miles.
the fixes were pretty standard to. change plugs(recommend staying with motocraft / autolite double platnium) i put in a set of bosch platnium 2's and my 4.6L burnt them up in about 3,000miles. (keep your reciepts). change the wire's, clean the throttle body(use intake clnr, not carb clnr), clean the fuel/injector system, change the fuel filter, change the lean side o2 sensor. after that it changes to different things from vaccum leaks to badcoil packs.
just the plugs ($50), wires($74), o2 sensors($50ea), fuel filter($10) (i did myself) costs about $250.00 had the fuel system chemicaly cleaned and the throttle body done. $100.00. i live on an island so the prices are a little high.
hope this info helps you plan and shortens your trouble shooting.
if you check this site regularly, you'll know your in the mileage rang that it's probly tune up time! most of us have had miss fire #4, lean fuel mixture both left and right side, and an ignition pig under heavy load (pulling a steep hill) or at higher rpm's. with or without the check engine lite. mine started around 60,000 miles.
the fixes were pretty standard to. change plugs(recommend staying with motocraft / autolite double platnium) i put in a set of bosch platnium 2's and my 4.6L burnt them up in about 3,000miles. (keep your reciepts). change the wire's, clean the throttle body(use intake clnr, not carb clnr), clean the fuel/injector system, change the fuel filter, change the lean side o2 sensor. after that it changes to different things from vaccum leaks to badcoil packs.
just the plugs ($50), wires($74), o2 sensors($50ea), fuel filter($10) (i did myself) costs about $250.00 had the fuel system chemicaly cleaned and the throttle body done. $100.00. i live on an island so the prices are a little high.
hope this info helps you plan and shortens your trouble shooting.
Last edited by D's RIG; Oct 22, 2003 at 12:52 PM.
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: dallas
Yup....
...thats what it was alright. P0304 -- cylinder 4 misfire. Tune up time...
Thanks gentlemen for the info, I will definately bookamrk this websight and view it as needed! Appreciate it!
Thanks gentlemen for the info, I will definately bookamrk this websight and view it as needed! Appreciate it!