I'm new to this board. I've got a '97 F150 Lariat 5.4, 79,000mile and have developed a check engine light? How much does the dealer charge read the code? Is it usually something simple? (Hopefully!!). I tried the reset and it lasted about 40mile and came back on.

thanks guys

 

Any other symptoms??? Does it run rough or shake??? Did the MIL blink or just come on and stay on??? How is your gas milage lately??? Do you still have the original plugs and wires in there???

Dealers charge $80.00-$100.00 to read the codes. You should really invest in your own code reader. Brands like Actron and AutoXray are good. They cost about $150.00-$225.00 but they work on all OBD-II vehicles so it is worthwhile.

 

Just after i bought my truck I experienced the C.E.L. and asked the question on these forums. It was suggested that I double check my fuel cap, as this design does not always seal all the way and if not, your fuel pressure sensor will act up and give you the light. Sure enough, the cap was not correctly installed so I reset the computer and have had no problems ever since...

 

Two trips to the dealer for a code read and you've paid the price for a good code reader.

Get yourself a code reader and a good service manual and you'd be set. You don't have to be an ace mechanic to fix most of the "little" things that would throw a code. Based on my exeriences with my 144k mile T-Bird, it's most likely going to be little things (cam position sesor in my case) that give you the trouble as you rack up miles.

BUT, before you rush out and spend a lot of money, do go through the basic troubleshooting (eg: mashie's suggestion) 'cause it would be really terrible to buy all this stuff if you didn't really need it just yet.

Welcome to the board!

 

Hey, thanks guys. The truck doesnt act funny, other than sometimes it idles rough for few seconds if it hasnt been driven in a couple days. Also noticed, it idled a little rough at a stop light for a few seconds yesterday, and then acted ok. Its a steady light, it doesnt flash. I sure hate to pay ford $100 just to check it out, that seems a little steep to just do a diagnostic.

thanks
pat

 

Actually, standard practice for diagnostic rates are double the normal hourly rate. We have to. Too many customers come in and want you to tell them what's wrong so that they can have their neighbor fix it. Diagnostic equipment get's pretty damn expensive, and accounts for 2/3rds of my annual tool expenses. If the customer doesn't have me do the repair, I'm losing money. So, I charge $90 per hour for diagnostic work, and $45 per hour for the repair. I'm still barely breaking even.

Take care,
-Chris

 

Be a man and go to Snap-On and get the scanner for $2,500.00 and another $700.00 for the cartridge updates.

 

Change your oil and filter. I used to have the exact problem, and changing the oil and filter made it go away until I was due for the next oil change.

 

I just changed the oil and filter, if you reset it , comes back on in a couple days. Got an appointment tues., $57 at the local ford dealer to check it out. I'll post what happens.

thanks
pat

 

The cause of my CEL was a bad oxygen sensor.