"Check Engine" light NOT working

[Luscious]

Hello,
We have a 95 Ford Windstar that we bought used. When we first bought it, we noticed the "Check Engine" light was on. We were told that it just needed to be reset by the dealers.This was about 2 years ago. I just recently learned from a Mechanic that my "Check Engine" light doesn't work so it was not able to pass the emissions test. Everything else on this van is in proper working order, but we do not know what the previous owners did to turn the check engine light off. Is there a simple solution in getting this fixed? Or do I need to take it to get it serviced?

[LeSabre97mint]

Originally Posted by Luscious

Hello,
We have a 95 Ford Windstar that we bought used. When we first bought it, we noticed the "Check Engine" light was on. We were told that it just needed to be reset by the dealers.This was about 2 years ago. I just recently learned from a Mechanic that my "Check Engine" light doesn't work so it was not able to pass the emissions test. Everything else on this van is in proper working order, but we do not know what the previous owners did to turn the check engine light off. Is there a simple solution in getting this fixed? Or do I need to take it to get it serviced?

Hello Luscious

Does the Check engine light come on when you turn the key on but do not start the engine? It may just be a burnt out bulb.

Regards

Dan

[garytstew]

I've had a '95 Windstar since Dec '94, purchased new. My check engine light has been coming on during long road trips for the past 3 years or so. We go to Atlanta once or twice a year and after we've been on the highway for about 5 or 6 hours it comes on. Then, after a day or two it goes off. The first time it did it we took it to the local dealership and they could not find any faults recorded and simply reset it. So, we just ignore it now. It will probably "burn" us at some point...

[brinkz]

you know what, you must be taking your vehicle to the wrong spot to get the emissions done. I took my 98 for it's emissions, and the CEL is always on, and they still passed it. As long as your emissions are good, there shouldnt be any reason to fail. Where did you take the vehicle? Hopefully not the dealership. No cel, that's almost a blessing in disguise, i wish mine didnt work

[DRW1000]

The CEL "working" test requirement is state and province dependent. In my province the tailpipe readings and gas cap tests are th determing factors.

The CEL usually works reliably though and if it is on you most likely are having an emissions problem and your fuel consumption is probably higher than optimal. You should get them read. This can be done for free at Autozones. Code readers are not too expensive either. Correcting a CEL will usually pay off in fuel costs and is easier on the environment.

[wiswind]

In some states, like Wisconsin (the parts in the testing program), they will NOT pass you with a CEL lit up.
For '96 and newer cars (OBDII), they connect to the OBDII connector and read the computer for errors. If they find errors, they fail you. If you have recently reset the CEL (you or your dealership), they will also fail you as the code come up that it has not completed it's learning cycle.

I did go in about 1 week after replacing the "upstream" oxygen sensors...and clearing my codes. My CEL was not lit....but.... They found that the "downstream" oxygen sensors "mode was not set" (they take much longer than the upstream ones), and did the tailpipe test....and passed me.

So one will have to follow what the requirements are for their area.