So I was driving today and my "Check Engine" light randomly came on...

[97GoldXLT]

Any ideas to what might have caused this? I checked all of my fluids and everything was right and I made sure there werent leaks or anything.. I'm just scared cause I need my explorer to take me to college (30 minutes trip) and to work every day! I just dont want it breaking down on me!

Any ideas on what might have caused the light to turn on? Any suggestions will be helpful! thanks!

 

[RubySlow]

Go to Autozone They have a scanner you can use for Free! Plug it in right under the steering wheel and it Will give you a code the scanner might tell you what the code is or you can look it up on the internet Im assuming you have OBD II

 

[BrooklynBay]

Don't disconnect the battery! You will lose the code before you get a chance to read it.

 

[Space Truckin']

Don't buy anything during the first trip to AutoZone. Just get the codes scanned and then tell us what they are.

 

[97GoldXLT]

Go to Autozone They have a scanner you can use for Free! Plug it in right under the steering wheel and it Will give you a code the scanner might tell you what the code is or you can look it up on the internet Im assuming you have OBD II

ok, thanks a million!

 

[97GoldXLT]

Don't disconnect the battery! You will lose the code before you get a chance to read it.

OK good, cause I was gonna do that tomorrow to check into the problem further ha.

thanks!

 

[KPT]

Who else wants to throw a dart and guess? My money is on DPFE or O2.

As has been said, your truck is trying to tell you what is wrong. Get the code(s) pulled....

 

[97GoldXLT]

Who else wants to throw a dart and guess? My money is on DPFE or O2.

As has been said, your truck is trying to tell you what is wrong. Get the code(s) pulled....

is an O2 sensor the usual problem? whats DPFE?

I should be going tomorrow to autozone to check it out, as I have work/college from 7am-9:30 pm lol

 

[Space Truckin']

The 02 sensors can be a problem but they are also one of the most common unnecessary repairs. That is why you should not buy anything during the first trip to AutoZone. Wait until you really know what the problem is. Most of the time an upstream (before the catalytic converter) 02 sensor code just means the sensor is working and is telling the computer something else is wrong.

 

[97GoldXLT]

The 02 sensors can be a problem but they are also one of the most common unnecessary repairs. That is why you should not buy anything during the first trip to AutoZone. Wait until you really know what the problem is. Most of the time an upstream (before the catalytic converter) 02 sensor code just means the sensor is working and is telling the computer something else is wrong.

is an 02 sensor an expensive fix?

thanks for the info!

 

[Space Truckin']

What engine do you have? You should be able to get a price from www.autozone.com.

Edit:
We keep referring you to AutoZone but their website indicates the closest location is about 30-35 miles from you. (Potsdam or Watertown stores) Where do you usually get your parts?

 

[techieman33]

Don't get excited about parts or part prices yet, it could be a million different things, just worry about getting the codes pulled for now.

 

[97GoldXLT]

What engine do you have? You should be able to get a price from www.autozone.com.

Edit:
We keep referring you to AutoZone but their website indicates the closest location is about 30-35 miles from you. (Potsdam or Watertown stores) Where do you usually get your parts?

I have the V6 4.0 SOCH, I usually go to napa(spl?) right in town, but I have bought a new muffler for my explorer there before! (at the watertown location) it's really not a biggy for me to drive out to watertown, as just about EVERYTHING is 35 miles away from me haha

 

[97GoldXLT]

Lmao, well I went to autozone and they scanned it and it came up that my gas cap was loose and it was leaking emmisions or something, but it was on as tight as I could get it

 

[Space Truckin']

That is funny! With that code, it is safe to buy a new gas cap on the first trip to the parts store. :biggthump

 

[97GoldXLT]

That is funny! With that code, it is safe to buy a new gas cap on the first trip to the parts store. :biggthump

Ha, lucky for me huh!?

Bur, thanks for everyone that helped out, I'm sure this information will come in handy the next time I get the light on lol

 

[BrooklynBay]

Thanks for the update.

 

[CRUISERMEDIC]

hahhaaha..............that same thing happened to my wife once! that was going to be my guess if everything drove ok. my wife got gas didnt tighten and drove and freaked out calling me at work. i couldnt find a prob so i took to a-zone. i felt stupid but relieved at same time

 

[97GoldXLT]

hahhaaha..............that same thing happened to my wife once! that was going to be my guess if everything drove ok. my wife got gas didnt tighten and drove and freaked out calling me at work. i couldnt find a prob so i took to a-zone. i felt stupid but relieved at same time

Ha exactly, I got in there at like 9:45pm (and they close at 10:00pm) and had a guy do a scanner and he was like "Uhh... It's saying your gas cap is loose" and I felt like a moron, but it wasnt loose at all! I just reset my computer and it hasnt been back on since

 

[gijoecam]

Uuuuh, the guy at AutoZone is an idiot. GET THE CODE NUMBER and NOTHING ELSE!!! It was more than likely a gross evaporative emissions leak or something along those lines. The most common issue that can cause that is a loose fuel cap, but it could also be caused by a DPFE solenoid, a cracked hose somewhere in the system, or any number of other issues. Without the code, it's a guessing game.

At this point, if it does it once and never again, don't sweat it. If it happens again, GET THE FREAKIN' NUMBERs!!!

-Joe