C.E.L.

[Geminidj2000]

I was Just talking about emmisions ..... and yesterday on the way to work my engine light came on..... When i first got the explorer i put 16 dollars in regular unleaded in then the when the old fuel ran out and it hit the unleaded the check engine light came on for a while... I checked the manuel and it said that 85 octane fuel in high altitude areas was not acceptable , so i put some mid in. I was all worried but then when the mid stated burning the engine light went off..... and stayed off for the last 800 or so miles (i should have taken it in to emmisions) then the other night i went to a a 7 eleven in the eastside (not the best quality gas) and im, preaty sure i put mid in but when it hit that gas the engine light sarted coming on again I know when my acura was ****ed up the engine light would come on when i hit a certin speed ... but on the explorer it comes on a soon as i turn on the car .. if my theory is correct when i burn that gas and put some preium in the engine light will stop coming on again that sould be by saterday... but if it doesnt and Idea how much itll cost to fix i rember when i got my acura i had to get 2 sensors replaced and it was like 600 how much do u guys think that im looking at?

 

[RiverRat]

You really need to read the codes before anything else.

 

[aldive]

Its a crap shoot without a code scan.

 

[Glacier991]

Gemini... what they are trying to tell you is that the days of idiot lights are past. That check engine light is backed up with a computer memory that will tell you exactly what it was that made the "check engine light" light up in the first place...even if it went back to the normal "off" status since (it stores the data for a specified number of restarts, and that number is high) and I think by 1996 there were over 200 plus things being monitored. Your Ex is what they call OBDII (on board device II). A simple code reader will cost you under $100 and a single visit to the dealer to have THEM read it will set you back most of that. Ask me and I'll say EVERY Ex owner ought to have one.

No reason to try and guess WHY the light came on anymore. You can let it tell you ! Neat huh ?


Happy exploring

Chris

 

[BradE.]

Just so it's clear OBD does not stand for On Board Device. It stands for On Board Diagnostics.

 

[Glacier991]

<Major blush> You are of course, more than correct. DUH (he's cute but he's absent minded). Thanks for the kind correction. Anyone need a code reader, I have several for sale (seriously) from mild to full blown... OBDI and II.


Happy exploring

Chris

ps. On Board Device is what the car bombers have ? <lol>

 

[Geminidj2000]

Whhhhhhhaaaattttttt?????? hell yes again Im so used to having my acura there was only 1 place that had a hook up for it so it would run me $100 evertime just to get it checked... and my friend told me about that I have a lap top.... do i need that dyno softwere or does it have something a screen or something and were can i buy it at?
o yeh and it went back off again

 

[Glacier991]

Try scantool.net. They have interfaces and software. You can thank me later <g>


Happy exploring..

Chris

 

[Robb]

Do you happen to have AutoZones locally? They will read your codes for free. HarbourFreight also sells scanners that will read and clear your codes for about $40.

 

[aldive]

There is a difference in scanners and code readers. Harbour Freight's is a reader.

 

[Robb]

Originally posted by aldive
There is a difference in scanners and code readers. Harbour Freight's is a reader.

Lemme guess.......a reader only reads and clears codes? I thought I explained that.

Sorry I used the term scanner inappropriately.

 

[Glacier991]

Good point. My readers only produce CEL codes. Canners give real time readouts from the sensors.... I find the O2 readouts especially valuable. I also have some older O2 scanners for cars without ODBII.


Happy exploring


Chris