about once a week, for about 5 minutes or, my check engine light will come on. '94 F150, 351, 4wd, 200k miles. Im used to workin on the ranger i just sold andf= am gettin used to this older technology, I know the way of obtaining a code is a huge process. ive got instructions in my chilton manual. but im curious how other people will go about this. I dont hear, feel or see anything wrong just the light randomly comes on...

 

There is a sticky on this. By just call me Sean

 

ive got instructions on how to retrieve the code. but dont i have to do it when the light is on? that would require carryin all necessary equipment in the truck and being prepared to pull over when it randomly comes on and perform the test.

 

Apparently you didn't bother to read my instructions. The equipment? You mean a paper clip? The process? You mean inserting the paper clip and counting flashes? Read the sticky dude, and yes you can do it any time just like any other vehicle.

 

It works I've done it it's time consuming but works.

 

sorry, ill read it. just assumed it was the same as whats in that book i got.

 

Is there any common factor such as it coming on when you accelerate?
I had that happen and it turned out to be the tps was sending too much fuel and when I accelerated, the light would come on. My catalytic converter ended up catching fire as a result of it, but luckily I was at the repair shop when that happened.
I did the code reading process and yes it is laborious, and the codes often don't give you much detail, good luck.

 

Aggravation? haha. If the CEL comes on at any point in time, the computer stores the code. It will be retrievable until the day it takes the drive to the big junk yard in the sky if it's never deleted. If you don't like the paperclip method, you can go and buy a code reader that will do it all for you...or just take it to a mechanic. Any way it goes, that stored code is more than likely the single key to your CEL mystery. At the very least, it will give you a starting point. Let us know what you find.

 

Yes, I guess I might have been a bit cranky there.