Check Engine light
Cory Turner
On long trips with some uphill climbing my "Check Engine" light on my
'95 EB comes on. At first I payed little attention to it, per the
advice of Ford, but it's now occurring sooner, more frequently and stays
on for longer periods of time. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Cory Turner
CTu...@valtek.com
Jon M(Mike) Corcoran
Cory Turner wrote:
On our '94 4X4 Sport(74K miles) we just had an 8 month, or so, period
of pinging, which led to using higher octane gas(helped for awhile) and
finally pulling the octane shorting rod. About 2 weeks ago we started
seeing the check engine light come on intermittently. It's been real hot
here in SoCal and it was coming on at different speeds, always when
starting up significant hills. Took it to a diagnostic center and they
could find nothing stored in the computer. They said it scoped out
great(I just did the plugs and normal service). Then they asked if I'd
changed the fuel filter. Nope. Bought one and hadn't put it in yet.
Well they installed it and I believe they've solved the problem. The
octane shorting rod was re-installed and no pinging or check engine
light on the way home. I'll still need some time to really check this
out, but I'm optimistic and thought I'd pass it on.
The problem, according to the sevice mgr, relates to the oxygenated fuel
we've been stuck with here in California. I know the gas lines etc are
supposed to work with this stuff, but I've sure read(and now experienced
first hand) indications they don't. The filter removed from my Exp was
almost closed. He recommended changing out the filter out every 15-20K
mles. Ford recommends to change at 75K(I believe) only in severe
sevice, otherwise it's supposed to be a "lifetime" item Right.. We also
put in a fuel additive, similar to the Chevron Techrolene, but claimed
to be industrial strength.. The thing to remember about using the gas
additives for cleaning injectors or decoking the cylinders, you should
install a new fuel filter first..
Oh, also about the fuel tank, I've always been one to try and extend a
tank of fuel as far as possible. For the reasons above, he mentioned
it's best to not let the fuel level fall below 1/8 tank. That way the
in-tank fuel pump doesn;'t have a chance to suck up any loose garbage in
the bottom and die...
Good luck and hope this helps..
Next weekend its time to change the tranny filter/fluids..:-)
Mike Corcoran
Eric Suydam
Cory Turner wrote:
>
> On long trips with some uphill climbing my "Check Engine" light on my
> '95 EB comes on. At first I payed little attention to it, per the
> advice of Ford, but it's now occurring sooner, more frequently and stays
> on for longer periods of time. Any ideas?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Cory Turner
> CTu...@valtek.com
Probably a HEGO sensor (HEGO: heated exhaust gas oxygen) going bad, or
possibly something has happened where the system can't maintain the
proper Air-Fuel ratio and the sensors are picking it up. John Corcoran's
note about the fuel filter is a point well taken. If you haven't changed
it and you're past 30K, try that first. Then, I would try a tank or two
of gas from a different station. After that, take it in and have them
check for stored codes in the computer.
Just my $0.02
---Eric
ga...@tsnc.com
I had the same problem on a '90 Ranger XLT. Ford said it was a sensor
that should start 'annoying' you at about 60,000 miles so that you would
bring the vehicle back in for check of catalytic converter and/or other
pollution control items. They offered to replace the faulty sensor for
about $120 or just disable it for $17.50. My engine light started the
same way (at ~30,000 miles)... every once in a while at first and then on
most of the time toward the end. This item was not covered under
warranty. I just had them disconnect the sensor. BTW, I now drive a '92
Explorer and YES!, the front-end shakes at 65mph.
In article <33EF48F4...@valtek.com>,
ctu...@valtek.com wrote:
>
> On long trips with some uphill climbing my "Check Engine" light on my
> '95 EB comes on. At first I payed little attention to it, per the
> advice of Ford, but it's now occurring sooner, more frequently and stays
> on for longer periods of time. Any ideas?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Cory Turner
> CTu...@valtek.com
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Eric Johnsen
Eric Suydam <godz...@ameritech.net> wrote in article
<33F259...@ameritech.net>...
> Cory Turner wrote:
> >
> > On long trips with some uphill climbing my "Check Engine" light on my
> > '95 EB comes on. At first I payed little attention to it, per the
> > advice of Ford, but it's now occurring sooner, more frequently and
stays
> > on for longer periods of time. Any ideas?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Cory Turner
> > CTu...@valtek.com
I am having the same problem with my '94 Explorer. We checked out the code
and it was "EGO lean". After some checks we discovered the fuel pressure
was low which meant either the fuel pressure regulator or the fuel pump.
We determined it must be the former since pressure was high with the return
line clamped shut. I changed the fuel filter since I'm at 30,000 but
didn't get a chance to do anything else. I went on a trip and the light
stopped blinking. I'll leave it for now and see what happens... Esp since
I can't find a f.p.r. except from Ford who0 wants to rip me off.
Eric Johnsen
Steven Carter
The same thing happened with the "Check Engine" light on my '95 Explorer
XLT. It got progressively worse (more frequent and longer "on"
duration). The dealer gladly repaired it under warranty. I needed both
HEGO sensors and the wire to the front sensor replaced. There's an
upstream and a downstream sensor on the exhaust system. Have them
replace both if they're going to be underneath there anyway. It just
wastes time to try and figure out which is faulty.
Steve
Joe Rizza
I had the same problem with my '97 Explorer. They said it was a vacuum
leak and that the computers are very sensative. 2nd time I took it in
they replaced part of the computer (JIM module?) Haven't seen the light
again, but I'm just waiting.
-Joe