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tommy_g's avatar
tommy_g
Explorer
Jun 21, 2016

check engine light

I have a situation that seems downright silly. My check engine light has been going on and off sporadically for quite sometime. The engine is running ok so I'm guessing that it has to do with sensors(EGR, oxygen, etc.). The test connector is OBD1. I cannot seem to get diagnostic code out, nor can my mechanic. I went to home base and checked with the local Ford dealer and they don't have an OBD1 tool!! They really don't!?!? Have any of y'all with a Ford EFI 460 v8 had this kind of problem? I'm getting labor estimates for a Banks Power Pack so maybe I'll just black tape the light and hope the new breathing will alleviate the situation. Any suggestions will be welcomed.
Class A
  • tommy_g's avatar
    tommy_g
    Explorer
    Jun 21, 2016
    Thanks gene, but my regular guy has a scanner. His not being able to retreive a code is what sent me to the local dealership. Since they don't have proper tools to work on Fords(a Ford dealer lol), I hoped someone would have personal experience with something like this. Since the first post, I've been told that it could be the ECM itself. If that's the case, the black tape will stay until it runs bad.
  • MountainAir05's avatar
    MountainAir05
    Explorer II
    Jun 21, 2016
    just google scanners. My model works on OBD1 and 2 plus CAN. I also have a software driven that works off computer and it also does OBD1 and 2. Autozone and Checker should be able to check your system. WalMart sells them and so does most auto parts. Amazon also has them.
  • tommy_g's avatar
    tommy_g
    Explorer
    Jun 21, 2016
    Guys the battery is in good shape and fairly new. Gas cap is tight. The light flashes on and off and varies with acceleration and deceleration. It now seems to be on as much as off. It first started about 2 years ago and seemed to do it when backing off. This led me to think it was something to do with emissions. I'm just amazed that not even a Ford dealer can get a reading from OBD1. By thy way, there are Ford specific OBD1 scanners. My local dealer said that they did not work on older vehicles enough to have one. UNREAL!!
  • Gjac's avatar
    Gjac
    Explorer III
    Jun 21, 2016
    I think the scanners only work for OBD2 connectors. On my 454 OBD1 I use a paper clip to connect 2 ports and it will flash what ever code is stored. There are generic codes on line for your engine by year that may get you close. A better way is to find a manual that gives the codes by ECU part number. OBD2 is much easier because the codes are standardized by engine and year.
  • Johno02's avatar
    Johno02
    Explorer
    Jun 21, 2016
    V-10s were bad about sucking rain into air intake. Caused MAP to go ape till it dried, then problem disappeared till the next hard rain.
  • gbopp's avatar
    gbopp
    Explorer
    Jun 21, 2016
    LadyRVer wrote:
    Had that happen on a Triton V-10...turned out to be bad battery. Just a thought.

    I had a 2003 Toyota Camry doing the same thing. It did it for about a year. When I replaced the battery, I had no more problems.
    Maybe the chassis battery is going bad?
  • darsben1's avatar
    darsben1
    Explorer
    Jun 21, 2016
    One some vehicles a bad gas cap gasket will throw an intermittent fault code
  • LadyRVer's avatar
    LadyRVer
    Explorer II
    Jun 21, 2016
    Had that happen on a Triton V-10...turned out to be bad battery. Just a thought.
  • Kayteg1's avatar
    Kayteg1
    Explorer II
    Jun 21, 2016
    The first generation of computers on truck suck big time.
    I had similar on 1999 F450. It did have OBD II plug, it would display CEL at freeway speed, it would put the truck in default mode, so driving was limited, yet when I pulled off the freeway the light went blank and no code stored.
    You have 2 choices.
    1. get a scanner that you can drive with and check the code when it comes.
    2. drop some parts on your guess, but that can easy turn long adventure.

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