Well on my way home from work this evening my check engine light just came on. The truck still ran fine the rest of the way home just makes me mad that something has to happen when money is tight. The truck has 76500+ miles on and has had no major problems until this check engine light came on tonight.

 

Without a code reading it is hard to guess but if it still is running right it may not be expensive to fix. Most likely an O2 sensor with an errant reading.


tom

 

Thanks what the best place to have the code checked out.

 

AutoZone does it for free.

If not most auto parts carry a code reader hopefully for around $30, which is still cheaper than what most Ford dealerships charge to read the codes (usually around $65 from what I have seen).

 

Autozone is definitely the place to go as long as the check engine light is on. If not they don't like to bother. I can't say I blame them.

$65 is cheap. Try $85.

It's sounds like its running fairly well. Don't put it off too long. If the problem is intermittent the light may go out. The computer will turn the light off and clear the code after 300 minutes(5 hours) of engine runtime. If it's a constant error it won't go out. No way to tell the problem. I've had 2 check engine lights so far. Each time the engine was running well when the light came on.

Unfortunately, both required parts. An EGR valve and an intake manifold runner control(air handler side of the fuel injection system). You won't have the intake manifold problem since you have the 4.6 That part is specific to the 4.2 as far as I know.

Almost 168,000 now.

 

Like I said, depends on where you go. Sucks that they charge $85 just to plug in and tell you what the code is. I guess it takes SO much of their time

 

The $30 code reader is only for 95 and older systems.

96 and on requires the OBD-II scanner that normally retails from $130-150.

As noted, AZ checks for free. Write the codes down them post them here for discussion prior to purchasing any parts.

Steve

 

Phone aound for the cheapest place to get a scan. we don't have a auto zone but a tranny shop does scans for $35

If money is really tight don't worry put some tape over the light.
Most of the time it's enviromental crap anyway, check the fluids
for contamination,and level. the exhaust for soot and white smoke
(gaskets leaking or injectors stuck open) If it's running smooth
don't worry evervy system on a ford has a default mode that readjust your engine tuning if a sensor goes.

 

hi,
have you replaced your plugs and wires? I had same issue in my truck, ford claims they last 100k, not true. had them replaced and the shop didn't install properly, replaed and truck runs good again. hope this helps

 

You didn't forget to put your gas cap back on snug did you?

-Brian

 

If you have an O'Reilly Auto Parts close, the one in my area, has you put a deposit on the coder reader, then you get 48 hours to use it. When you're done you take it back and they credit the charge. Net cost is $0. I did this last night for my truck.

 

Thanks for all the replies guys I went to Autozone and it was the EGR vlavle that caused it to trip they reset it and it has been fine every since.

 

now this is one thing autozone wont do for you that light will come back on again in awhile what you would need to do is check the data from dpfe sensor if you got code p0402 or like p0401 i think these are egr high and low reading. which is almost always a bad stuck dpfe sensor. because a stuck egr will cause all sorts of problems and you will feel it. a bad dpfe will cause some hesitation and stumble but wont effect drivability alot. real easy sensor to change take you maybe 10 minutes little black plastic or grey metal box with 1 connector and 2 vacumm hoses on it.

 

The guy showed me where it was looks easy to change we went back inside so he could look it up in the computer and told me the part wasn't avaiable through Autozone I don't know how true that is seems like they would carry something like that unless its one of those parts you can only get through FORD.

 

well you might want it through Ford because the update their parts as time goes on so that they dont have comebacks as often. almost all aftermarket parts are based on the original that ford gives them not the updated one ford releases when they see a problem.