The engine light in my 1988 Ford f-150 pickup has been flashing. In the winter it flashes more than in the summer. I was told it was the oxgenated fuel change in the winter. However in the summer it will flash until it warms up then stop. In the winter it flashes almost all the time when the temp outside is below 40 degrees? The 5.0 liter engines is running fine,any help would be appreciated.

 

Hey, I got the same problem it seems! It's only coming on during acceleration and when you go downhill or just leave the accelerator alone, it's off? I had it taken for scanning the codes and it came up with a number of codes: the power steering switch, oxygen sensor and two more things I forgot. I changed my exhaust manifolds (huge crack in one of them) and the oxygen sensor, but the blinking keeps coming back even though I reset the computer. The comp. scanning is 70 bucks so I will probably either buy a scanner (JC Whitney 25$) or go with the even cheaper jumper version:
http://www.ford-trucks.com/dcforum/80_96/3068.html http://dalidesign.com/hbook/eectest.html http://dalidesign.com/hbook/2digit.html http://dalidesign.com/hbook/3digit.html

Why don't we let each other know what comes up and compare our results?

[This message has been edited by bjoern (edited 11-15-2000).]

 

I just retightened and retorqued my headers and the check engine light is off! I haven't pulled the codes, yet (I will later tonight), but it seems the blinking light was indicating an exhaust leak at the headers (it sounds much better now, too). I'll let you know what the codes said...

Bjoern

 

OK, too early. The check engine light is back on flashing. I pulled the codes yesterday night and came up with an 11 (system pass) on KOEO, a 32 (EVP/EGR related) in memory and a 41 (engine running lean) for the KOER test. It thus seems to me that there is either a faulty EGR valve or a vacuum leak somewhere. The o2 sensor is new, so I guess the 41 will go away as soon as the vacuum/EGR problem is solved. Or does the 41 error indicate that my headers are still leaking?

[This message has been edited by bjoern (edited 11-20-2000).]

 

I had a similer experience with a different car. I had a 1991 Nissan Altima that had the check engine light come on every winter, turned out to be the EGR valve clogging with carbon. Maybe the same thing is happening.
Jeff

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1999 F-150 Lariat 4X2
Reg cab Short box Styleside
5.4L 3.55ls
Deep Wedgwood Blue/Silver
Lund Interceptor hood shield
VentVisors
Class III hitch
Ford molded mud guards
Soft tonneau cover
Factory CD with changer (thanks Dusty)
Tinted windows
Factory fog light kit

http://www.fortunecity.com/silversto...ton54home.html

 

So it's at least not the EGR valve position sensor. I took it out, measured resistance while moving the shaft of the sensor up and down. It read fine between 100 and 4000ohms, well within specs. Put it back on (took care to bend the female contacts a little to make sure they're really tight) and the check engine light has stayed off so far (two trips). We'll see if it comes back on...