Check Engine Light
Bob Burkett
The ABS light comes on sometimes and stays on for an hour or two. Yet, the
Sears car repair people checked it and found nothing wrong.
All the panel meters read normal.
What are the general items that can cause this condition? What inputs to the
computer?
Can a person buy a "OBD 1 & 2 code reader scanner" to exercise some enhanced
troubleshooting techniques. What do these testers cost?
Bob
Happy Traveler
them install a battery and change oil with reasonable skill, but that's
probably where it ends. Didn't even know that they claim to service brakes
or engine electronics.
There are easily 500 reasons for the CEL to turn on; nobody will even offer
a guess without at least reading the stored trouble codes. You can have a
place like AutoZone do that for free or buy an OBD2 code reader at auto
supply stores for $100 or so, but neither will do much more than satisfy
your curiosity about what tripped the CEL. To perform diagnostics you will
need a scanner; two-three times that expensive, at least. Still, those won't
access anything beyond the power train (engine and transmission) management
computer, so don't count on diagnosing your ABS with them. One vendor,
'AutoEnginuity' (sp?) claims that their inexpensive scanners can do much
more. If anyone has experience with that brand, I'd love to know.
"Bob Burkett" <senior...@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:kRhji.13689$q12.4842@trnddc08...
Tim J.
<senior...@verizon.net> wrote:
>I have a 1999 Ford Ranger. The check engine light came and stays on.
>
>The ABS light comes on sometimes and stays on for an hour or two. Yet, the
>Sears car repair people checked it and found nothing wrong.
It's Sears. 'Nuff said.
>All the panel meters read normal.
>
>What are the general items that can cause this condition? What inputs to the
>computer?
>
>Can a person buy a "OBD 1 & 2 code reader scanner" to exercise some enhanced
>troubleshooting techniques. What do these testers cost?
You can get a cheap-o one that will only tell you the codes for less
than $100. If you have an Advance Auto or AutoZone around, they will
generally read the codes for you at no cost. BTW, for a 1999, you'll
only need an OBD II.
Mike Hunter
is operating outside of it design parameters and thus polluting.
It has nothing to do with fluid levels or pressures. Take the vehicle to a
competent tech, who has the proper test equipment, to have the fault
analyzed and corrected, WBMA.
The ABS light has nothing to do with the 'Check engine' light. It too
requires the proper test equipment, like found at you local FLM dealer, to
analyze the fault.
mike
"Bob Burkett" <senior...@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:kRhji.13689$q12.4842@trnddc08...
Bob Urz
Mike Hunter wrote:
> The 'Check Engine' light is illuminated any time the vehicles microprocessor
> is operating outside of it design parameters and thus polluting.
>
It has nothing to do with the "microprocessor" operating out of design
parameters. The micro is probably fine. Its the program in masked rom
that the micro is running that is finding fault with some system or
sensor on the cars electrical systems at some point in its operation
that is outside of its tables of acceptable values.
Of course that is what you meant to say.
> It has nothing to do with fluid levels or pressures. Take the vehicle to a
> competent tech, who has the proper test equipment, to have the fault
> analyzed and corrected, WBMA.
You got that right. Sometimes you can get free scans at some autoparts
stores that might give you a hint of the problem. Sometimes you have to
pay the piper and go to the dealer.
Bob
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