Check Engine light

[BigBadWimp]

It came on under harder acceleration at first (getting up to speed on the ramp getting onto the highway) but now it seems to come on more regularly... I just wanted to know some of the easier things I could check to make that annoying light go away.

[Gloriahusk]

Check your Injectors....My Ford Windstar was blowing grey smoke ..check engine light was on...began to blink...ran it to Auto Zone...it read Lean on Bank 2 and Missing on Cylinder 1....I was told it was a blown head gasket...turned out to be Fuel Injector 1...

[BigBadWimp]

Hmm... I don't think I'm blowing any smoke (well, atleast my car isn't) but how shall I check my injectors? Also, anything else I might take a look at would be appreciated. Thanks a ton.

[Gloriahusk]

Originally Posted by BigBadWimp

Hmm... I don't think I'm blowing any smoke (well, atleast my car isn't) but how shall I check my injectors? Also, anything else I might take a look at would be appreciated. Thanks a ton.

Best way to check injectors is take your vehicle to Auto Zone and have it read to see if you have a miss...that's the first clue to a bad injector...then take them off and clean them...you will probably need to get an intake gasket...$6.00 at Auto Zone or Advanced...I had to remove the intake manifold just to get to my rear injectors as you will most likely have to do...remove and clean the Injectors...best cleaner I have found is Sea Foam..carried by Advanced Auto...put them back on...
This job takes about 1 1/2 hours tops...I found out mine was a bad injector and not a bad valve...cost me $35.00 to replace the injector now my van is running like new...for now!
But look what else went bad below....

Mine wasn't blowing smoke either until the injector became 100%clogged...however we have had the following additional problems in the past year:

1:It's a Ford...that's the biggest problem...lol
2:Oxygen sensors $48.00 @ Auto Zone
3:MAF Sensor (twice gone bad) $104.00 @ Auto Zone
Causes power down, then powers back up...idles rough...will give codes of lean on bank 1 and 2, also false readings on oxygen sensors...
3:Cam Shaft Sensor @ Auto Zone
4:Fuel Regulator $45.00 @ Autozone
5:Plugged Fuel Filter $9.95 @ Auto Zone
6:Alternator $126.00 @ Auto Zone (Had a friend give me a discount on this one)
7:Spark Plugs and Wires $45.00 @ Auto Zone
8:Speed Sensor $59.95 @ Auto Zone
Notice most problems were with the fuel system....

[BigBadWimp]

Do you have your own code scanner? Are they worth it? If so, where can I get one?

[Gloriahusk]

Originally Posted by BigBadWimp

Do you have your own code scanner? Are they worth it? If so, where can I get one?

No I don't have my own OBDII scanner but Auto Zone will run a scan for free and you can ask them to print out a list of what the code/codes they got back from your vehicle mean. If you don't have a Auto Zone close you will have to pay someone to do it...this usually runs between $39.00-$79.00...depending on your area...and it isn't any more detailed than the Auto Zone scan...I made the mistake and paid the first time!!! Never again!

Good luck!

[BigBadWimp]

Thanks!

[XLT03]

Before you pay someone $79.00 to scan for you, you may want to buy a scanner instead for 20 Bucks more. Look for them on Ebay or at Kragens/Checkers. BTW in CA, AutoZone will not read the codes for you. You have to "rent" it for $0.00, (yes...ZERO) just give them a deposit to "rent" and you will get your deposit back when you return scanner.

[molehole]

If the car is still running fine it could be you egr pressure feedback sensor. My check engine light came on the same way you are describing. My mechanic scanned my car for free and I replaced the EGR pressure feedback sensor-(like $65) and its been fine ever since, even better gas mileage. Good Luck

[stefsquared]

Hi, My check engine light came on too. I resolved it by replacing the oxygen sensors ( 4 of them ) by my mechanic. It was a couple of hundred dollars for a 96 Explorer XLT with 100k.
Cheers!

[BigBadWimp]

Well, I changed my oil and filter and the light seems to come on less easily now. On a recent over night trip (the drive was about two hours to get where we were going) it would only seem to come on around 75 mph and sometimes less if it was more uphill on the highway. It seemed to run okay, though.

[Gloriahusk]

FORD STRIKES AGAIN!!!!!!!!!
1998 Ford Windstar Update...
Check Engine light came on again this 4th of July weekend after running fine for 3 days without it coming on...we were again getting a Misfire on cylinder 1...we finally broke down and opened took a look inside the engine...found out the lifter collapsed...didn't see the rod anywhere...we located the rod...it was actullay fine (not bent at all) and seemed to have just fallen over and was actually laying ontop of the valve pan cover...we were lucky...replaced the lifter $12.02, cleaned the engine and put it all back together...started it up and still had check engine light on...went and had tested...Throttle position sensor is bad (husband admitted he "might" have stepped on it"...hmmmm...ummmm....this is a clue I think that this may have been human caused by human error (ha ha) although he said he cannot ...replaced that sensor....
It is now the 7th of July...counting the minutes until the next sensor goes.....or until I catch the gremlin that's hiding in my engine...or until the next time I let my husband touch another sensor with his toes...lol