I just bought a 97 4.6 with 31k last week. On the way home from work tonight the Check Engine light came on... I have an old Actron code scanner that I used with my 93 Ranger..will that work? If so where in the hell is the plug for it...I can't find it! Should I unhook the battery and then reconnect it and make sure the light comes on again before I mess with it, or does it usually only come on if something is really wrong (our caravan light comes on sometimes and then goes right back off and has done that every since we got it). If this scanner will not work on this truck is it better to go ahead and have a dealer scan it or is that usually expensive. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

 

If your pickup is running OK, check the gas cap. Sounds dumb, but that's what happened to me shortly after I bought my truck. Apparently, it's a common problem with the fuel cap design of these trucks...

 

Congrats on the new/used truck. Sorry to burst your bubble but that scanner for the 93 Ranger will not work as it is a OBD I system. The Ranger used what's called OBD I. For the production year of 96 the government mandaited that all vehicles conform to higher emission standards and use standard type connectors/software.
The F150 uses a more advance system called OBD II. Which will require a new scanner. Scanner's start at around 130-150 and go up from there. Sounds high but two trips to a dealer and you've paid for a scanner. Also the good news is that an OBDII scanner will work on almost any 96 and newer vehicle. Need more infocheck this place out www.obdii.com

 

Mashie I thought you had nailed it because I just filled up with gas this morning...I went back out to the garage and pulled the cap off and put it back on, jumped in and started it and the light was still one...is there some sort of sensor in the filler tube that could be malfunctioning then? The truck is running great! If I do go buy a scan tool, where is the plug? Thanks for the attempt Mashie

 

yo Jeremy,

You may just have a small glitch. Try this....

Disconnect the battery for about 30 minutes
when you reconnect it, the computer will reset.
If the check engine light comes back on you should have it checked out
if not you are good to go!

 

Mashie was on a good track but I see that it is not your problem. You can try the battery disconnect method. I am just always curious to actually see why the light came on in the first place, but hey if it solves the problem, it solves the problem. The only sensor I can think of is a fuel tank pressure sensor put I thin kit sits right below the bed floor above the spare tire, no sensors that I no of in the filler tube.
The connector should be located below the dash on the driver side to the right of the steering wheel. They usually have some sort of small cap that says data link connector or something to that effect. That is supposed to be the standard location for a OBD II vehicle.

 

Hey, it happened to me a couple of times before I took it to some lame brained service manager at Steamboat Springs, CO. ford dealer. He said it was an O2 sensor. I almost bought his story. The only thing that saved me was he didn't have 1 in stock so it would be a day. I had time to go down to NAPA and talked to a guy that told me about the gas caps. Now, I click the heck out of it and the light hasn't come on since. Just clear your code with the battery and be done with it.

 

First of all thanks for the advice guys... Now I am really curious about all of this gas cap talk.... How in the hell does it make the light come on if there is no sensor in there? Does it have something to do with vacum that builds up in there or something? If that is so...then I guess the problem could be the pressure sensor above the spare tire that someone mentioned above....Anyway...I removed and replaced the gas cap several times and left the battery unplugged overnight so we will see how it does this morning...thanks again guys..

 

I have never had it happen yet, but I have heard the same thing. I believe the sensor would probably be closer to the engine on the fuel vapor return line. Do these trucks still have them??? I know whenever I get an inspection on my truck here in Houston, they pressure check the gas cap. I have also heard that overfilling the tank(after pump cutoff) can overflow into the emissions system, causing problems after a while. Anytime the check engine light comes on, the computer must be cleared, at least that's how it works for me. Even if the problem is corrected, the light will stay on til the codes are cleared.,,,,,98

 

JeremyB, it has something to do with the high pressure fuel pump requirments and the fuel tank needing to be pressuized. You know that pressure bleeder on the fuel rail that you relief before changing fuel filters? It all ties in and there is a sensor somewhere for it. Don't top off your tank when filling. Leave a little room for some pressure.

 

It could still be the gas cap. If it's not on tight, the emission control system will trip and send a code. It takes several start/stop cycles for the code to clear. I think a cycle is defined as a cold start and warm-up to operating temperature.

If you were to call a good dealer, they'd ask you how the truck was running. If it's running okay, they'd say to remove the gas cap and put it back on. Then drive around for a week. If the light is still on, then go in.

 

I had just bought my truck. Filled her up and immediately noticed the check engine light. Consulted the vast storehouse of knowledge at this discussion board and checked the gas cap. Sure enough, it was loose. I secured it, disconnected the (-) battery cable for awhile, reconnected it and...away I went! That was 5 months ago, never had a problem since. That single episode convinced me that as the owner of an F150, this is an amazing resource of truly knowledgable and helpful people and well worth consulting before swinging by the dealer for a $85/hour diagnosis...Good luck.

 

It does sound like your gas cap!

It does take a few cycles to re-set Some times it takes another fill up and a few more cycles. Or you can just un-hook the battery.

There is no sensor in the filler neck. It is on the whole fuel system tied in with the emission controls that triggers the CEL when the cap is loose.

Good luck

peace-

 

Geez! There is WAY too much knowledge here! I reset the computer and drove probably close to 200 miles Saturday...must have been the gas cap....hopefully anyway. Thanks again

 

It came back on again at about 200 miles or so... The truck still seems to be running ok. The only thing I can notice is it maybe idles just a tiny bit rough...not enough to notice on the tach you can just feel it a bit. I guess it is time to get a code scanner! Are they pretty easy to use?