1998 Ranger Check Engine Light

Rhino23 · 08-17-2007, 05:28 PM

Hello, I'm a newbie to this forum and need some help, I have a 98 Ranger XLT with the 4.0 engine,and a 5 speed manual transmission, today after sitting in a construction area for about 10 minutes each way, I noticed on my way home that my Check Engine Light came on, I'm not very mechanically enclined, but I know that there are many causes to why the light would come on. the only things that I have had done or done myself recently are and oil change and I installed some lights to see better when I back up. I've checked all my connections and over and looked at everything I can think of under the hood. the only thing that was low was my coolant and I filled it up, it was only an inch or two low.

Is there anything else I should check before I take it to a mechanic to have them check it?

Thank You
Rhino23

**Tbars4** · 08-17-2007, 05:40 PM

...first, welcome to this site and let's see if you can find some answers here before you take her to the shop...

...go to autozone or another local retail place and see if they will read your codes...i say autozone as they will do it for free...write down your codes and come back and post your codes in this thread...we can help you decipher your codes and maybe quickly resolve your issue... we'll keep an eye out for your new post...

Rhino23 · 08-20-2007, 11:50 PM

unfortunately I dont live where there is an autozone and I called all the places in town I thought of where I could get it checked out for free...so I'm taking it in to the shop tomarrow ($42 just to get the code) I ran the truck today and it ran rough and the exhaust didn't smell right..

**Tbars4** · 08-20-2007, 11:54 PM

..it might be worth buying a reader yourself and posting the codes up here..just a thought...

Rhino23 · 08-21-2007, 12:06 AM

would be nice.. but no one in town has one.. there are some good things about living in a small town and some bad things..

and they are probably quite expensive.

diesel_tech2 · 08-22-2007, 04:59 PM

take your car to a local auto parts store so they can put a scan tool on the let you know what code is coming from it

Rhino23 · 08-22-2007, 08:16 PM

Thanks for the advice diesel_tech2 but if you would have read my prev. posts you would have seen that none of the parts houses here have them....

Anyhow got it figured out and fixed.... $300 later..

Thanks
Ryan

**Tbars4** · 08-22-2007, 08:21 PM

...wait, wait, wait...what was the code??? ...what was the problem??? what was the fix????

...this may help many others...

Rhino23 · 08-22-2007, 09:23 PM

the 2 codes that came up were EGR Excessive flow and Ignition Primary or secondary malfunction... I took it in they cleared the codes and took it for a good drive around town, check engine light didnt come back on

they pulled a spark plug and it was in need of a tune up REALLY bad

(almost 94,000 miles on it) so they changed the plugs, wires and fuel filter..

runs like a champ now and more power

08-17-2007, 05:28 PM	#1
Rhino23 Wannabe Elite Explorer Quincy, Calif. 1998 Ranger XLT Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 10 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	1998 Ranger Check Engine Light Hello, I'm a newbie to this forum and need some help, I have a 98 Ranger XLT with the 4.0 engine,and a 5 speed manual transmission, today after sitting in a construction area for about 10 minutes each way, I noticed on my way home that my Check Engine Light came on, I'm not very mechanically enclined, but I know that there are many causes to why the light would come on. the only things that I have had done or done myself recently are and oil change and I installed some lights to see better when I back up. I've checked all my connections and over and looked at everything I can think of under the hood. the only thing that was low was my coolant and I filled it up, it was only an inch or two low. Is there anything else I should check before I take it to a mechanic to have them check it? Thank You Rhino23

08-17-2007, 05:40 PM	#2
Tbars4 Offroad Moderator anaheim hills,california 95 ranger 4x4/ 91 X 4x4 Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 21,956 Vehicle Specs	...first, welcome to this site and let's see if you can find some answers here before you take her to the shop... ...go to autozone or another local retail place and see if they will read your codes...i say autozone as they will do it for free...write down your codes and come back and post your codes in this thread...we can help you decipher your codes and maybe quickly resolve your issue... we'll keep an eye out for your new post... __________________ I have Rocks in my head. What's in yours? '95 ranger xl 4x4 2.3L std cab, 2 sticks Ranger RegistryThe Squirrel '91 4x4=To much to list, much more to add.. Project "X" and more Pics & Mod's List How to: Wheels,Tires, & Lifts... Buy Explorerforum.com Items here

08-20-2007, 11:54 PM	#4
Tbars4 Offroad Moderator anaheim hills,california 95 ranger 4x4/ 91 X 4x4 Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 21,956 Vehicle Specs	..it might be worth buying a reader yourself and posting the codes up here..just a thought... __________________ I have Rocks in my head. What's in yours? '95 ranger xl 4x4 2.3L std cab, 2 sticks Ranger RegistryThe Squirrel '91 4x4=To much to list, much more to add.. Project "X" and more Pics & Mod's List How to: Wheels,Tires, & Lifts... Buy Explorerforum.com Items here

08-22-2007, 08:21 PM	#8
Tbars4 Offroad Moderator anaheim hills,california 95 ranger 4x4/ 91 X 4x4 Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 21,956 Vehicle Specs	...wait, wait, wait...what was the code??? ...what was the problem??? what was the fix???? ...this may help many others... __________________ I have Rocks in my head. What's in yours? '95 ranger xl 4x4 2.3L std cab, 2 sticks Ranger RegistryThe Squirrel '91 4x4=To much to list, much more to add.. Project "X" and more Pics & Mod's List How to: Wheels,Tires, & Lifts... Buy Explorerforum.com Items here

08-20-2007, 11:50 PM	#3
Rhino23 Wannabe Elite Explorer Quincy, Calif. 1998 Ranger XLT Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 10 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	unfortunately I dont live where there is an autozone and I called all the places in town I thought of where I could get it checked out for free...so I'm taking it in to the shop tomarrow ($42 just to get the code) I ran the truck today and it ran rough and the exhaust didn't smell right..

08-21-2007, 12:06 AM	#5
Rhino23 Wannabe Elite Explorer Quincy, Calif. 1998 Ranger XLT Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 10 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	would be nice.. but no one in town has one.. there are some good things about living in a small town and some bad things.. and they are probably quite expensive.

08-22-2007, 04:59 PM	#6
diesel_tech2 Wannabe Elite Explorer Maricopa, Arizona 03 ranger 3.0L Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 3 Vehicle Specs	take your car to a local auto parts store so they can put a scan tool on the let you know what code is coming from it

08-22-2007, 08:16 PM	#7
Rhino23 Wannabe Elite Explorer Quincy, Calif. 1998 Ranger XLT Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 10 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Thanks for the advice diesel_tech2 but if you would have read my prev. posts you would have seen that none of the parts houses here have them.... Anyhow got it figured out and fixed.... $300 later.. Thanks Ryan

08-22-2007, 09:23 PM	#9
Rhino23 Wannabe Elite Explorer Quincy, Calif. 1998 Ranger XLT Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 10 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	the 2 codes that came up were EGR Excessive flow and Ignition Primary or secondary malfunction... I took it in they cleared the codes and took it for a good drive around town, check engine light didnt come back on they pulled a spark plug and it was in need of a tune up REALLY bad (almost 94,000 miles on it) so they changed the plugs, wires and fuel filter.. runs like a champ now and more power