Man!!!! Some of u guys are being a bit harsh!!!! I am not as knowledgeable as a lot of u are when it comes to vehicles, how about cutting me some slack eh??? This may come as a surprise but I do know how to check the fluids & even my tyres!!! Anything much more complicated I take it to my mechanic as I did with my brakes etc. The light is still on so I am probably going to Autozone to get the code tomorrow.

 

You left yourself open for that by saying this:

That implies that you can't even find the dipstick............

 

I have a 98 f150. I have my check engine light on. When it first came on I brought it to Autozone and had them run the codes. It came up with the O2 Sensor and the Mass Air Flow Sensor. I bought both O2 sensors and MAF sensor and it is still on and Idles rough.

 

Agent47, this is a learning curve. If you are interested in learning about your truck and how it works, that's great. I think you have seen how having the correct information helps. Go ahead and get the codes read and re-post them in the correct forum. If you are doing this for your own information then don't let them erase the codes, that way where ever you take it can pull them up. If there are no codes (already erased) your mechanic will not be able to diagnose the problem.

Good luck....lesson learned.
Jim

 

What are the exact numeric codes?

 

Man I hate it when the Zone does that. If I had a nickle for every O2 sensor they sold like that I'd be rich.

Half the time they read the codes they don't tell the customer what the code numbers are, they just "diagnose" it for them on the spot. ALWAYS HAVE THEM SHOW YOU THE EXACT CODE NUMBERS AND WRITE THEM DOWN.

 

im sorry i jut cant get over the fact that you didnt know you had a V8...i could tell you by hearing it run or looking at your truck while not running most likely. and i could tell you every car and engine all my friends and family have in their vehicles...

 

I am going to go to autozone after work and have them read the codes. I will post them as soon as I get them.

 

Shall we take bets, jgger? I'll bet P0171 and P0174.

 

Just been to Auto Zone, none of u guessed right. I have a printout & it gives a code of P0401 and a variety of faults mainly all in relation to the erg valve. They don't sell erg valves so I guess it's a dealer thing. Over to u guys now for yr suggestions

 

"Erg" valves are almost never the cause of a P0401 code. That code tells you the symptom of insufficient flow. Usually, you can clear the code by cleaning the EGR passages in the intake.

Check here for instructions: http://www.fordf150.net/howto/throttlebodyclean.php

 

I have spoken to the guy who does the work on our vehicles & will advise once he gets back to me. I hope that cleaning will just fix it as he told me the last egr valve he did was $150!!!

 

Its being cleaned out tuesday.

 

On a 4.2? You already got the good side if that bet.

Maybe some HEAVY odds?

 

Insufficient EGR flow is caused by clogged passages, faulty DPFE, cracked vacuum lines on the DPFE, or a bad EGR valve itself. You can test the EGR valve itself (and the passages to a lesser extent) by starting it up, pulling the vacuum line off the EGR valve, connecting a piece of vacuum line to it, and sucking on it. The engine should stumble and may even stall.