check engine light

[mrplow]

today my check engine light came on. the engine is running fine though. It has good power, no wierd noises. what could it be???

 

[Robb]

You need to get the codes read. There is no way to tell you what the problem could be.

 

[mrplow]

how much does that cost to have done?

 

[bluevolume]

how much does that cost to have done?

$0 at Autozone

 

[bstarz65]

I have a 97 and the check engine light also comes on only when the temputure is below 25deg. I bought a obdII at pep boys for 99 dollars, the code came up LEFT BANK LEAN RIGHT BANK LEAN . I have no idea what that means thought.

 

[99EURO]

Intake Manifold Gaskets

I am having the same problem right now. The local Ford dealer said its the intake manifold gaskets. I have read on this forum that its a common problem with the 4.0 SOHC. They are going to do the front timing tensioners when they fix the intake also.

 

[00XLS]

I have a 97 and the check engine light also comes on only when the temputure is below 25deg. I bought a obdII at pep boys for 99 dollars, the code came up LEFT BANK LEAN RIGHT BANK LEAN . I have no idea what that means thought.

Sounds like an O2 sensor problem, take it to autozone and have them scan it for free, write down the codes they tell you and we can help pinpoint it.

 

[Four0Sport]

LEFT BANK LEAN RIGHT BANK LEAN ... what this means: there is an oxygen sensor on both sides of the exhause manifold, hence right bank and left bank, both are reading lean, meaning your oxygen sensors most likely need replaced, lucky for you both came up.. on some cars the code only reads bad o2 sensor, not which bank.. i run obd scans every day, its not that bad, youll just get piss poor as mileage

 

[TPLYNCH]

I have a 97 and the check engine light also comes on only when the temputure is below 25deg. I bought a obdII at pep boys for 99 dollars, the code came up LEFT BANK LEAN RIGHT BANK LEAN . I have no idea what that means thought.

Do you have the SOHC 4.0 engine? The info above is correct that the o2 sensors are reading lean. Do not just throw new sensors in though, cause 95% of the time it is another issue that is causing the o2's to read lean. Generally, it's a sign that unmetered air is entering the engine. In the SOHC engine, the intake manifold o-rings leak.

 

[Glacier991]

AMEN, THANK YOU TPLYNCH!

I am sorry that we have gotten to the point that well intentioned and intelligent folks have been brainwashed to think every CEL is an 02 sensor waiting to be replaced. I'm gonna post a link and I plead for someone to nominate it for USEFUL THREAD status. I didn't write it. I merely posted it.

Here it is:

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82038

MORAL: A CEL can be 100's of things, and often they only reflect a problem in a SYSTEM, not pinpoint a bad sensor. (Although to be fair, they CAN)

 

[mrplow]

is there anyway to read the code with out one of those testers. I know that on some cars you can put a paperclip into a certain hole on the clip and coun the number of times the light flashes, then look that up somewhere. Can you do this on explorers??

 

[dreamr]

To check your codes having the OBDII system.

Under your steering column next to the hood releas is a plastic cover.
Remove this and you will find a data port. Simply plug in and follow the instructions on your scanner.

 

[Robb]

Nope, not on OBD-II ('96+) Explorers. The codes have to be pulled with a scanner or reader.

 

[My98xplorer]

MY check engine light is on and i had Autozone pull my codes today. 3 different things came up, but i already know its my IAC, but i wanted to see what they said. It said that i was running lean on 2 of the codes, and the other code said that only the factory can tell me what it ment. I know its the IAC because it was howling and i took it off to clean it out, then when i put it back in the light came on. I guess you can only clean them so many times??

 

[aldive]

and the other code said that only the factory can tell me what it ment.

Say what?

What was that trouble code number?

 

[adz1308]

I had the same problem on my 99 4.0 SOHC, LEFT BANK LEAN RIGHT BANK LEAN. It was the lower intake mainifold gasket. Easy way to check is to spray carb cleaner towards the intake seals. If the engine starts to idle rough you have a leak.

 

[2talll]

Just came across info on other messageboards today about recall 00m12. Ford will replace the intake manifold gaskets- the leaks in the o-rings cause the engine light to come on. You can google it for more info because I'm not to smart when it comes to cars.