Check Engine Light

[Art Wallsi]

I have a 1997 Explorer Sport That I just bought last week. The guy told me that when you take off the gas cap the check engine light will come on. I went to Autozone and they said I need new gas cap. So bought one and the guy said he would clear the computer so light would go off. He pluged up his hand held device and nothing so he went in and got another one and same thing. He said no power to computer. Next is the plug for the hand held device on driver side or passenger side? Everything else seems to work ok. What is my next step? I would like to hold off taking it to Ford Dealer as long as possible. He suggested an Auto diagnosis shop here in town which I suspect is a friend of his.

Thanks---Art

 

[NHale623]

If the engine is running, and you remove the gas cap, the check engine light should come on. It's part of the evaporative emissions system.

 

[BigDadys93x]

mine does this all the time rather than spend the time and money at the dealer or a shop just disconnect the negative terminal on the battery for about 30seconds reconnect it and start the car and the light should be off. I do it all the time and always work.

 

[BrooklynBay]

What is the code # that is being generated? It might be one of the sensors.

 

[Art Wallsi]

When I went to Autozone a young man waited on me. When I told him the light was coming on when I filled up with gas he had to go get his boss she came out and said I needed a new gas cap which I put on and the young man said he would clear the computer. He tried with two different devices and could no reading. He said my computer was dead. I don't see how that can be as all the other lights work. Seat belts, overdrive, parking brake, door ajar, etc. I am not sure he knew what he was doing as it was pretty obvious he is a new trainee. I think I will go to Autozone again and maybe get a different counter person to try it. This is a 1997 Explored Sport with 84,000 miles.

 

[rizzjc]

I think if the computer is dead, the car is dead, but I guess I could be wrong. I would think that it would at least run really bad.

 

[BrooklynBay]

The engine can't start without a computer. He probably didn't get a reading from his scanner, so he made this assumption.