Check Engine Light Came On This Morning. Help Please.

[aldive]

You didnt pay too much, but what oil/filter did they use?

You seem concerned with your car/truck, why don't you learn how to care for it yourself. You not only save money but get the satiisfaction of a job well done.

The people that change oil in these fast service joinrs usually know nada about your trucj or could care less.

 

[GRocks10]

Hey again everyone,

I wanted to update you all that we got the check engine light fixed. It was no problem just the sensor went off and turned the engine check light on. The guy at the auto shop said to just take out the terminal from the battery and then put it back again, and that should fix the problem so my brother in law was over today and did it for me. The problem is fixed! Thanks for all the help again you guys!!! Much appreciated! Also if anyone is interested in buying feel free to e-mail me.. GRocks10@hotmail.com Its the 1999 XLT "Signature Series" Model. I got pics and alot of info for anyone who is serious in buying it. I got it up on AutoTrader aswell. I'll send you the url if you PM me or email me.

-Gabriel

 

[gavin]

resetting the ECM DOES NOT fix the problem! It only hides it!
The CEL comes on BECAUSE THERE IS A PROBLEM.
as been said MANY times, find an AutoZone, Napa, or just call parts stores and find out if they will scan it for free!
Just because the CEL is off now, DOES NOT MEAN WON'T COME BACK ON BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM.

you come in here asking for advice, but I have YET to see you USE any of it!

 

[Glacier991]

Gavin...

AMEN! Gabriel is looking to be told what he wants to hear.I think a roll of black masking tape would be a perfect fix. Just cover up the CEL, voila problem fixed.. seriously though, it IS frustrating to try and help someone and have them ignore the same message from lots of people over and over. <sigh> But, that's what this site is about. You can ask, no one can make you take good advice. As for the rest of us, keep offering good advice. It may help someone!

Happy exploring

Chris

 

[gavin]

it is VERY upsetting to see people put the effort and time into helping somebody who asked for it, then see the person not even take the advice.
Then WTF did they ask for it? Why should people try to help somebody that is going to ignore all advice given?

GRocks10 - a LARGE number of these posts say why NOT to do exactly what you did because "the shop told you to"
Why is it you're taking advice from one person at a shop, rather than SEVERAL people here? Why is it you asked for the advice, then never put it to good use?
I really would like to hear the reasoning behind the answers to these questions.

This site is here to help fellow owners. If you ask for advice, atleast put some thought into it rather than post a reply completely ignoring EVERYTHING that has been said before, and ask the same question that has already been answered by several members.

Sure you don't HAVE to take the advice.. but it would be nice if you would atleast put some thought into the advice given. Of which I have not seen..

Sorry for the rant. It's just that people that ignore good advice that will cost nothing, and would rather just hide the problem evidentally don't know what their doing. And if ANY shop ever told me "Just reset the ECM and your CEL will go away and the problem is fixed" I sure's in hell would never even THINK about going there again.

 

[IAmTodd]

Some people just don't wanna be helped i guess.

Taking the check engine bulb out might be a better fix for him, more permanet(sp?)

 

[GRocks10]

Hey everyone,

Didn't you see earlier what I had said? Maybe I didn't mention it... Well we took the explorer down to an auto place and they checked it out and said that it was the gas cap that got the sensor to go off. Lots of times my mother puts gas in the suv and she can't figure out how to close the gas cap since she says it to hard to turn it to close all the way and that is the reason the sensor went off. I take all your advice very seriously!! I took your advice about not doing the $9.88 oil change.. Instead I did the best thing they had that cost me $52.67!! Jeez I obviously do care about my car!

-Gabriel

 

[Robert]

If the CEL came on because of a loose gas cap then you did the quickest thing you could do to make the light go off. If the CEL came on because of a loose gas cap, it would have shut back off after two consecutive drive cycles with the cap properly positioned (your Owner's manual will describe what constitutes a drive cycle). If the CEL came on for another reason (which only a code scan will be able to determine) then as soon as the same conditions that set it off the first time happen again, the CEL will be back on. Many problems that set the CEL require two consecutive occurances to turn on the CEL. The more serious problems though will turn on the CEL as soon as it happens. Hopefully the the CEL was on because of a loose gas cap and doesn't re-illuminate while a potential buyer is test driving it. It might just cost you the sale as you try and explain it.

 

[GRocks10]

Hey everyone,

The people at the shop said it was the gas cap. they told me to just take off the battery terminals and to re put them back. My brother in law decided to go ahead and do it and it fixed the problem. Obviously if there still is a problem don't you think the check engine light would come back on again? It hasn't and we put the gas cap and showed my mom how to put the gas cap in properly so we haven't had any more problems.

-Gabriel

 

[Explorer XLT 98]

Did they ever tell you what code was set????????? I be willing to bet that your light will come on again very soon. Could be as simple as the gas cap but also could be something more in the evaportive system. Have the code checked and let us know what it is. MAYBE SOMEONE HERE WILL BE ABLE TO HELP YOU more than jiffy lube and the place you went to that told it was just the gas cap. Sorry but I have a feeling it might be more than just the cap Ive been down that road and by the time they were finished they changed every part in that system including the gas tank and to this day I still dont know what corrected this problem but it was all under warantty so I didnt care. Also i bet its code P0455

 

[SANDSURFER'98]

reply to post above

I pulled my codes yesterday and got that code P0455. What does that code mean? i cant find it. thanks. KP

 

[aldive]

Evaporative Emission Control System Leak Detected (gross leak)

 

[Robert]

Re: reply to post above

Originally posted by SANDSURFER'98
I pulled my codes yesterday and got that code P0455. What does that code mean? i cant find it. thanks. KP

A faulty gas cap that looked and felt perfectly fine to me caused my P0455. Replaced mine with a $10 cap from Checkers, cleared the code and the lights been off for the last year now.

 

[1CEBITN]

Leaving the gas cap off or not seating it properly will cause the same code. That is a "gross leak" as far as the computer knows...

 

[ygu]

I just go that same code. I am going to check my gas cap but I was wondering, what exactly is 2 drive cycles. That way I will know if the if the light hasn't gone off. Thanks

 

[Robert]

Ford's definition of a "drive cycle" per my '97 Owner's Manual:

"If the vehicle’s powertrain system
or its battery has just been
serviced, the OBD-II system is
reset to a “not ready for I/M test”
condition. To ready the OBD-II
system for I/M testing, a minimum
of 30 minutes of city and highway
driving is necessary as described
below:
² First, at least ten minutes of
driving on an expressway or
highway.
² Next, at least twenty minutes
driving in stop and go, city type
traffic with at least four idle
periods.
Allow the vehicle to sit for at least
8 hours without starting the
engine. Then, start the engine and
complete the above driving cycle.
The engine must warm up to it’s
normal operating temperature.
Once started, do not turn off the
engine until the above driving
cycle is complete."

 

[Glacier991]

Good description of a "drive cycle". For the more ****, here's a more complete description:


http://www.obdii.com/drivecycleford.html


Happy Exploring


Chris