"Check Engine" light came on

[kenns123456]

Hello everyone, love this forum you can learn so much. Well my story is I bought a "97 Ford Explorer XLT with 81221 original miles and original owner, it is in great condition but only after 2500 miles of driving the "check engine" light came on. So what do I do? Can it be something simple possibly or am I out a lot of money for a new converter? Should I take it to a dealer? Manual says it is emission problem? I though about changing the spark plugs, would that help? Can all who have had this experience let me know what they did and what I can do so it wont cost a fortune. Is it terrible to just leave it on for a few weeks or should I do something now? Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[diego]

I have a 97 xlt explorer... my engine light came on a few months back and it just turned out to be the o2 censor, easy fix but make sure the computer resets or the light will stay on. Just disconnect the bat. for a few minutes or i heard that after a few start cycles its suppose to reset its self hope i might be of some help.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

Take it to Autozone,Advance Auto Parts or what parts store that will read the codes for free. A dealer is going to charge you $90 or more just to read the code.

When you get the code read post it and we can tell you what it is and what you need to fix it. The CEL could be several things. Don't go throwing money at it for something it might not be.

 

[Sams01XplrSprt]

welcome

 

[marragtop]

Make note of the code(s) when pulled, and have them reset the codes. Sometimes a false reading will kick the CEL on and it will stay on until reset. You can also reset the codes yourself by unhooking the battery for 10 minutes.

 

[spinfisher]

having the same problem....

First of the year I replaced the plugs and wires,replaced air filter with a K&N filter, June I changed to synthetic oil and took a trip Oregon with no problems at all!
Now I went fishing and the CEL comes on. Runs semi-rough and I noticed it kinda stumbles on accelleration. So I cleaned the air filter the MAF and changed the fuel filter cleared the codes and it runs great, 47 miles later the CEL comes on again! I've looked for the obvious and haven't found anything, what to do, what to do??

 

[Tbars4]

...As mentioned, get your codes read and bring them back here..

 

[BBQ Bandit]

There's a $20 OBD II scanner/reader at Harbor Freight. Some units will turn off the light after a number of cycles. Saves me a ton of aggrevation and money reading your own trouble codes.

 

[Joe Dirt]

...As mentioned, get your codes read and bring them back here..

...and do that BEFORE you reset the codes... We need the stored codes as well as the active codes too- might tell a story...

 

[BrianDye]

I was told from a few members on my thread, that AutoZone cant read the explorers codes, well they didnt say the exporers, but it was like some fancy name like OBO or something, cus I asked if I could just drive to AZ and have them read them...LOL