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1997 Rannger XLT Check Engine
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Gray Kinney
Apr 3, 1999, 3:00:00 AM4/3/99
to
The check engine lights on my newly purchased truck. The truck has 44,000
miles on it and seens to run fine. Could this be a "maintenance warning" or
something less critical than implied?
miles on it and seens to run fine. Could this be a "maintenance warning" or
something less critical than implied?
Please email me with your thoughts.
Thanks
Mike Warner
Apr 3, 1999, 3:00:00 AM4/3/99
to
The "Check Engine" light illuminates whenever one of the circuits the
computer's been tasked to monitor is out of operating tolerances- a code
gets set and the computer turns on the "Check Engine" light to let you know
about it. Your truck is what's referred to as "OBDII" compliant- OBD stands
for On Board Diagnostics and yours is the second generation of that system.
On an OBDII vehicle there are literally thousands of things that can turn on
the "Check Engine" light- it could in fact be something as simple as leaving
the gas cap off (the gas cap is part of the fuel evaporation control system
and OBDII vehicles periodically pressurize that system to check for leaks).
One of the drawbacks from a consumer point of view, especially those who are
"Do-It-Yourself" types, is that codes can only be pulled from an OBDII
vehicle with a scantool- there are some cheaper, I suppose, but mine cost 3
grand. My advice to you is to check with your local Ford dealer to see if an
illuminated "Check Engine" light falls under the emissions warranty-
understand that I'm not talking about the powertrain or new car warranty-
all new cars and light trucks built for sale in the US are required to pass
a smog check for a certain period and an illuminated "Check Engine" light
would either be an automatic failure or indicative of something that will
make the vehicle fail. If it's not covered under the emissions warranty then
you gotta decide whether to take it to a shop for diagnosis or buy a
scantool. Don't get misled by those $50 code pullers for sale at most parts
stores, they're great little gizmos, but they won't work on OBDII vehicles.
At any rate, it's not a good idea to ignore it.
computer's been tasked to monitor is out of operating tolerances- a code
gets set and the computer turns on the "Check Engine" light to let you know
about it. Your truck is what's referred to as "OBDII" compliant- OBD stands
for On Board Diagnostics and yours is the second generation of that system.
On an OBDII vehicle there are literally thousands of things that can turn on
the "Check Engine" light- it could in fact be something as simple as leaving
the gas cap off (the gas cap is part of the fuel evaporation control system
and OBDII vehicles periodically pressurize that system to check for leaks).
One of the drawbacks from a consumer point of view, especially those who are
"Do-It-Yourself" types, is that codes can only be pulled from an OBDII
vehicle with a scantool- there are some cheaper, I suppose, but mine cost 3
grand. My advice to you is to check with your local Ford dealer to see if an
illuminated "Check Engine" light falls under the emissions warranty-
understand that I'm not talking about the powertrain or new car warranty-
all new cars and light trucks built for sale in the US are required to pass
a smog check for a certain period and an illuminated "Check Engine" light
would either be an automatic failure or indicative of something that will
make the vehicle fail. If it's not covered under the emissions warranty then
you gotta decide whether to take it to a shop for diagnosis or buy a
scantool. Don't get misled by those $50 code pullers for sale at most parts
stores, they're great little gizmos, but they won't work on OBDII vehicles.
At any rate, it's not a good idea to ignore it.
Hope this helps,
--
Mike Warner
CA Smog Tech
mwa...@san.rr.com
San Diego,
Kinney <visu...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:92316691...@news.remarQ.com...
Gray Kinney
Apr 11, 1999, 3:00:00 AM4/11/99
to
Of course, the check engine light went back out and it will not come back on
?! Well, maybe it was because the truck sat dormant for some time.
?! Well, maybe it was because the truck sat dormant for some time.
Thanks for your help!
Mike Warner wrote in message ...
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