I just came back from a trip to FL. On our way down there, the truck ran fine, pulled great. After we got to our destination, the check engine light came on. Just thought it was because of the gas cap. So disconnected the battery and re-did the gas cap. On our way home, we had a 23+ hour drive, the check engine light came back on. We made sure that we clicked the gas cap all of the time. Truck was still running fine, but it started to hesitate when we would slow down or come to a complete stop. The Check Engine light is still on, but we are running fine. Any suggestions on what to do or what it may be would be greatly appreciated. Just got the truck 2 months ago. I am hardly on this board, if you could please e-mail me. Thanks a bunch.
Erica
1997 Ford F150 Supercab 4x4

 

Erica,
First off, welcome aboard.

The only problem and time my light came on was when the
PCV hose burnt through at the back of the intake.
This did cause my truck to hesitate badly and not want to idle at a stop.


There is a rubber boot on the back of the intake
that connects the PCV hose to the intake. This boot can
get old and burn through. You have to buy and replace the
whole assembly. It cost me around $21.
Check it out, I hope this helps.

Terry

 

Yes, welcome aboard, Erica, if you went to Florida from West Virginia, chances are you came right by my town here in VA! Good luck, and I think 69Mach1 is right.

 

My check engine light also comes on every once and a while. Maybe this could be my problem. 69mach1 ? when this happend to your truck could you smell burn rubber. cause sometime when I get out of my truck in the morning at school I smell burnt rubber and it aint cause I`ve been smokin the tires, I have found tires are spendy and to take care of them. and today it was Idleing funny at a stoplight.

 

the emission system is the main cause of the check engine light, what you describe sounds like an o2 sensor having gone bad. I would get the computer scanned to make sure.

 

Thanks for the advice!! I haven't had a chance to get the pc scanned. Kinda recovering from the drive still plus having to go back to work isn't all that fun. I know on a dodge, all you have to do is turn the key 3 times and the check engine light will flash, you count the # of times and then can check it in the manual. Tried it with my ford and obviously it doesn't work. Is the only way to pull codes is with the pc scan?
Thanks for the help!
Erica

 

The 99's and newer will show you engine codes on the dashboard LCD readout. Don't know the exact procedure for it though.

Engine light could be a number of things.

PCV, bad plug or plug wire, bad coil pack, vacuum leak, dirty MAF from K&N oil, O2 sensor(s), etc. Best to get code pulled. Try an independent shop to save money. Ford charges around $100 bucks for a code reading. Or buy a scanner for $150.

 

Slider79,
No, I didn't smell any rubber, but this is not that big of rubber boot.
Ford4Fun,
You're correct and this did act like an O2 sensor
on my truck.
Good luck Erica.
Let US know what you find.

 

Yeah, most of the other stuff mentioned will turn on the check engine light throught a misfire code. If there was a misfire, you would feel it.

 

I found out that I can use it on both the truck and my car so I figured it was worth it to buy it. I was excited cause my BF told me he would do the scan when he got home from work. Never did it before, and I was off of work, and wanted to do something so I did it myself. IT WAS SO EASY. I didn't think it would be. Anyways I pulled 2 codes. The first one was P0133, which is the O2 sensor (sensor 1) and then the other was 1131, which it wasn't listed in my book, but I have a feeling that is an O2 code also. Thanks for the help!!
Another thing, my BF wants to get a super chip along with a K&N filter. When you put the chip in, you have to run high test, correct? See we got the truck to pull the race car and a dual axle trailer. We need to get better gas mileage, any suggestions? Thanks again.
Erica

 

high test, not necessarly. I would run what you are and if it pings then I would go to a higher grade fuel.

 

Ok I thought I read somewhere on the board that it was recommended to use high test. We just need to save on gas. Driving to FL, MD, VA, KY, NJ, and who knows where else gets pretty expensive. Do you have any suggestions on what we can do to the truck?
Erica

 

You must use 91 oct. or higher if you add a chip. The chip may give you slightly better gas mileage depending on your driving habits. Your truck will be more responsive and fell better overall but you will have to buy the higher octane fuel or your eng. will suffer from detonation .

Dan

 

Erica:

Some of the chips can be custom programmed to just improve tranny shift timing without needing premium fuel. If you do a lot of towing the advantage of slightly more power will cost you at the pump.

Do all the other stuff first like the K&N filter/airbox mod, flowmaster y-pipe, 3" catback exhaust, etc that isn't octane dependent.

 

Mine came on several times during a 5000 mile trailering trip last year. Reset the computer by diconnecting the battery. Sometimes it ran normally--other times- -a miss. With the light off the dealer cannot get the codes. My problem was an oxygen sensor. Since that was changed it hasn't come back on.