Check Engine light

[96 EddieB]

Rick, Im sorry I have been away from the sight for approx a month. Could you flip that switch you secretly installed on our explorers and turn off my Check Engine Light?

The light just came on yesterday and all the important's are OK. So im figuring that it might be the O2 sensor or something but im not sure. Also I'm only 10 miles from 70,000 miles. Could it be for scheduled maintenance? What else could it be?

Thanks for any help.

 

[Stephen]

No, Ford doesnt do that for scheduled maintenance, but its usually an O2 sensor.

 

[Haxaw]

Help, me too!

Mine went on at 70,750. I was wondering scheduled maintenance myself. I know the owners manual says the plugs are guarranteed for 70,000, but the truck is running great and I sure as hell don't have enough money to buy myself an ODB-II tester, thats bull that the one below 96 is 29.99 and the newer one is 149.99. Just my luck.

 

[Dre]

That light is annoing. I'm taking my rig to get checked at the dealer tomorrow. They'll charge me $105.00 just to hook it up and read the computer. Thieves.


Don't you think?

 

[Stephen]

Yeah the diognotsic charge is BS. Give me the damn scanner and I'll do it myself in 3 minutes...

 

[Robert]

I don't consider the approximately $150 for a scanner that will read all of the codes in any manufacturer's late model OBD-II such a "huge dollars in diagnostic equipment ". It is just another tool for my collection. My scanner that I use on my Explorer will also work on your 300M as well as any other domestic, Asian, and European vehicle sold in the US since 1996. It will also work on all other domestic vehicles made since 1980/81. Mine cost $350 for the scanner, carrying case, instruction booklet, and about 5 different cables to hook up to various vehicles. I could have gotten the OBD-II only model for $250 but since my Wife's car is EEC-IV I wanted to use it for that as well. A Sunpro scanner that will just read the codes on all OBD-II vehicles can be purchased for $139 at Summit Racing Equipment. Also Autozone will pull the codes for you for no charge at all figuring that you will buy the parts needed from them. I also heard that they will rent the scanner as well. I haven't tried them since I have my own. Someone else here did though and got them to read thier codes for them. I would try that before spending $105 at the dealer.

 

[espnfreak]

Check Engine Light in '96 XLT

I have the same problem with the check engine light in my '96 XLT. I took it to the dealer and they said they replaced the 02 sensor. This was all free because i got my car two weeks before this. So, now it came on yesterday again, and its really ticking me off. I called the dealer up again, and they said they would take it back and look at it again and fix whatever the problem was. That light sure makes me real mad!

 

[96 EddieB]

Im going to take the truck to Percision Tune this weekend, they will hook it up to the computer for approx $50. At least that's what it was last time. Hopefully its nothing major. They have been honest w/ me in the past.

 

[Dre]

just to stay on top......... I didn't take my truck to the dealer. $105.00 to run a scan seams kind of high so I'll call a few places before doing anything.


Later,

 

[Robert]

Especially for a '94 when the $30 scanner you can get from Walmart will work. '95 and up require the OBD-II scanner.

 

[jimbo74]

what is the scanner from walmart fo a 1994 part number? and just to make sure i get the right one, who makes it, looks and so forth etc....

 

[Robert]

It is made by Sunpro. It is called a Code Reader and is available in the automotive section. Be sure and get one for Ford up through 1994. Another thing to look for is one that is for Ford EEC-IV systems. Any autoparts store should have it as well such as Checkers, Autozone, Pep Boys, ect. There is also a procedure where you short out a couple of pins on the connector and it will cause your Check Engine light to flash the codes. I don't know which pins to short, but there are only about 5 or 6 pins on the connector and they are very large. I'm sure someone here could tell you how, it might even be in the Explorer FAQ.