Check Engine Light

[Huney1]

Proud to oblige Sir and easy as Google 1-2-3.

[cmangus81]

I had the same prob when I firs got my 99. At that time I used speedway gas. The manual said the light can come on because of poor gas quality. Since then I only use sunoco or shell and the light hasn't come on since

[lectraplayer]

My '96 did this to me one time, but when I cleared the code, it hasn't come back. Not sure if that was just electrical noise, but it hasn't done it since.

[Huney1]

Next time the check engine light comes on don't clear it, leave it on and see if it doesn't turn itself off in a few days. All it has to do is misfire a few times from bad gas or whatever and the CEL comes on.

EDIT: wafredrick is correct and it's the catalyst that makes them so expensive.
"How Catalytic Converters Reduce Pollution.
Most modern cars are equipped with three-way catalytic converters. "Three-way" refers to the three regulated emissions it helps to reduce -- carbon monoxide, VOCs and NOx molecules. The converter uses two different types of catalysts, a reduction catalyst and an oxidation catalyst. Both types consist of a ceramic structure coated with a metal catalyst, usually platinum, rhodium and/or palladium. The idea is to create a structure that exposes the maximum surface area of catalyst to the exhaust stream, while also minimizing the amount of catalyst required (they are very expensive)."
Good explanation and pictures of the inside at How Stuff Works. http://auto.howstuffworks.com/catalytic-converter.htm

As for the Ford OEM cat converter working better than aftermarket, . . . Can't say because I do not know, but someone said they get up to 2000 degrees and it a wonder they don't melt down.

[wafrederick]

Stay away from the aftermarket catalytic converter and do not throw away the old one catalytic converter out.Ford products run better with the factory Catalytic converter. There are guys buying them for the metals inside that go to auto salvage yards and shops.My father recieved $900.00 for a pile load of them from a buyer

[lectraplayer]

Originally Posted by Huney1

Next time the check engine light comes on don't clear it, leave it on and see if it doesn't turn itself off in a few days. All it has to do is misfire a few times from bad gas or whatever and the CEL comes on.

EDIT: wafredrick is correct and it's the catalyst that makes them so expensive.
"How Catalytic Converters Reduce Pollution.
Most modern cars are equipped with three-way catalytic converters. "Three-way" refers to the three regulated emissions it helps to reduce -- carbon monoxide, VOCs and NOx molecules. The converter uses two different types of catalysts, a reduction catalyst and an oxidation catalyst. Both types consist of a ceramic structure coated with a metal catalyst, usually platinum, rhodium and/or palladium. The idea is to create a structure that exposes the maximum surface area of catalyst to the exhaust stream, while also minimizing the amount of catalyst required (they are very expensive)."
Good explanation and pictures of the inside at How Stuff Works. http://auto.howstuffworks.com/catalytic-converter.htm

As for the Ford OEM cat converter working better than aftermarket, . . . Can't say because I do not know, but someone said they get up to 2000 degrees and it a wonder they don't melt down.

When I cleared the code, I was mostly interested in if it would come back or not. Alabama doesn't have emissions laws, and I didn't want to keep staring at that check-engine light day after day, so I cleared the code. This would also help me detect when it came back.