Service engine soon light is on?

Tiny
BRENDA GRAHAM
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 FORD E-SERIES VAN
  • 4.6L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 227,000 MILES
Previous EGR code, replaced EGR valve. Now getting number one misfire, replaced spark plugs. Still getting misfire codes, runs sluggish and service engine soon light on.
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Tuesday, February 27th, 2018 AT 5:02 PM

26 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,699 POSTS
A common problem to check for is plugged tubes feeding the EGR gas to the cylinders. As the tubes become plugged with carbon, the affected cylinders run especially well because as a result, they are only getting gas and fresh air. This system operates by measuring EGR flow, or volume, and that is expected to be divided among all the cylinders. When some cylinders are blocked from getting their share of the EGR gas, it goes to the one or two cylinders with tubes that are not fully-blocked yet. With so much inert gas to take up the space in the cylinders, there is no room left for fresh air. That causes the fuel to not burn completely, and the misfires are detected by the engine computer.

THis guide will help us get the codes

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

To say that a different way, the cylinders listed as having misfires are the good cylinders, and those that are running okay are the ones with the EGR tubes blocked with carbon.
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Tuesday, February 27th, 2018 AT 5:14 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,870 POSTS
Do you have coil over plug for each cylinder?
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Tuesday, February 27th, 2018 AT 5:18 PM
Tiny
BRENDA GRAHAM
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Yes, coil over plug.
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Thursday, March 1st, 2018 AT 11:54 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,870 POSTS
Have you tried dealing the coils to different cylinders to see if the misfire codes move to different cylinders?
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Thursday, March 1st, 2018 AT 11:12 PM
Tiny
TUBBS
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1999 FORD E-SERIES VAN
  • 4.6L
  • V8
  • RWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 95,000 MILES
Hello, My Van has developed a few issues. It is a 1999 Ford E-150 Econoline, automatic transmission, RWD, V8 4.6L Engine with 95280 miles on her.

My son noticed that the 'ABS' light comes on when he drives her on the tollway. Average speed 75mph. Light comes on after 10 minutes or more of sustained high speed. (I drive it local and never get up to more than 50mph, so have not seen this happen) The light is constant, no blinking. I took it to my mechanic and he could find nothing wrong. Now, a week later, the 'ABS' came on again while my son was driving on the tollway, which was Thursday. Friday the 'Service Engine Soon' light come on and has stayed on. Actually, from the moment you start her until you shut her off, that light is on. I have an Actron code reader and it read P0455. I checked the gas cap and, after 15 years, it isn't as snug as it could be, but I don't know if this is the problem.

Are these two lights possibly related? What kind of problem might I have?

Thanks

I put this question under Brakes because the P-code is emissions and there is no heading for that.
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 10:40 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
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For the abs a pro will h ave to use his scanner to read it. It may be intermittent so harder to find. Check items in pic
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 10:40 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TUBBS
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
** A note for those using code readers: Mine did nothing, no display, no nothing when I first plugged it in. After researching on the internet, I found that if your cigarette lighter fuse is blown, the reader won't work. It is powered by that fuse! ** Just thought I would pass that on as it wasn't in the user manual for the reader.

HMAC300

Thanks for the info. As I stated, my mechanic did look at it and couldn't find a problem (ABS). Will replace the gas cap as a starting place and see if it is as simple as that. So, the ABS is about the anti lock brakes and the Service Engine light can be anything? I have the code reader. Only got the one code.
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 10:40 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,606 POSTS
Because this can be a leak in evap system a gas cap probably won't fix it. It really should be smoke tested to see if there is a leak as that can be one of the problems which if you click on pic it tells you possible causes. Your code reader will not read abs codes only a pro scanner can do that.
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 10:40 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TUBBS
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  • 3 POSTS
HMAC300

Gotcha, I will call my mechanic and get it in for a look.

A-Ha, Pro Scanner. I see now why we haven't gotten any codes on the ABS.

Thanks for the answers and advise.
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 10:40 AM (Merged)
Tiny
PROJECT_NOVA
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
  • 1999 FORD E-SERIES VAN
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 86,500 MILES
Hi,
I just bought a e150 van. When I got it home after getting half a tank of gas the light service engine soon came on. I checked the gas cap and seal. It drives fine. Is there a way to reset the light like in a chevy or dodge where you press the gas pedal a few times. (For the oil reminder). If so whats the procedure. Its a 4.2l Thanks
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 10:40 AM (Merged)
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
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For starters have the PCM (computer) scanned for codes. If the PCM sees a problem it will store a code that will help in diagnosing the problem, get back with the exact codes. You cant reset these with anything other than a scanner or code reader. The gas pedal trick is for maintenance, the CEL is the PCM telling you it sees a problem
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 10:40 AM (Merged)
Tiny
PROJECT_NOVA
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
The code is p0306 misfire #6. I brought the van to autozone who told me the code. I then replaced the #6 cylinder wire and plug. The light was still on then. I then went to get an oil change and they serviced the engine. They changed the oil, serpentine belt, radiator flush. Air filter. The light went away and everything was fine. Then I got gas and the light came back on. Now I can feel a vibration like its struggling when the engine is at low rpm but driving. I think it might be a coil pack but i'm not sure. Please help. Is there a way to test it if it is

Thanks
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 10:40 AM (Merged)
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
Try this
https://www.2carpros.com/how_to/how_to_test_an_ignition_system.htm

Might also be an injector.Warm the engine up then use a meter to measure the resistance across #3 injector, then another few to compare.
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 10:40 AM (Merged)
Tiny
GARITO
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 FORD E-SERIES VAN
  • 4.6L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 154,000 MILES
Cylinder number three misfire.
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 10:40 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,938 POSTS
Check compression, spark and a faulty spark plug, check injector on the cylinder and check for a vacuum leak, the problem will be to do with this cylinder.
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 10:40 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ARONCHUBB
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1999 FORD E-SERIES VAN
  • 337,000 MILES
Recently my van will misfire under load (while accelerating quickly). My check engine light has been on for q couple of months and I think my O2 sensor is needing replaced. What will cause the misfire?
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 10:40 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
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Scan for codes and check fuelpressure first. You have to know the code before attempting to replace parts.
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 10:40 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ARONCHUBB
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I had the codes scanned and found out that one of the coil packs was going out. Will get that replaced ($80) and get an air and fuel filter while I'm at it along with a complete tune up. :-)
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 10:40 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SHSHAVER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 FORD E-SERIES VAN
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 130,000 MILES
Hi oil level was so low service engine light came on -oil change was done but noone rest the service engine light can I do this myself
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 10:40 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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You need a scanner to reset it. Take it to a nationally recognized parts store and have them do it for you. Most will do it for free.
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 10:40 AM (Merged)

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