Check engine light on?

Tiny
WADEPEDERSEN
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 FORD F-150
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 65,000 MILES
I was driving into work this morning and I experienced a loss of power (about 50%). I looked at the dash guages and the check engine light was on and the engine temp was spiked to the top. I pulled over expecting to see a blown radiator hose, but could see nothing out of the ordinary. When I restarted the engine everything was fine again except for that the check engine light is still lit. For the remainder of the drive, I had no problems. Any idea as to what could possibly be the problem?
Tuesday, September 15th, 2009 AT 11:47 AM

40 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Have you had the computer scanned for codes?

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

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Wednesday, September 16th, 2009 AT 7:20 AM
Tiny
WADEPEDERSEN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Yes, I was getting a cylinder head over temp. I'm thinking I may have a sticky thermistat
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009 AT 10:38 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
That could cause it. This video will help you clear the codes

https://youtu.be/ahK_eucFi-k

Please let us know what happens.
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009 AT 10:53 AM
Tiny
KEITH SUMMERS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 FORD F-150
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 69,700 MILES
What is invovled and how difficult is it to change the ignition coil on the #6 cylinder? I have already changed #2 coil for the same problem.
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Wednesday, September 9th, 2020 AT 5:35 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CALYPSO93
  • MEMBER
  • 43 POSTS
They all have one bolt securing them, some are easier to get at than others. These coils are notorious for going bad when water gets near them. I've replaced individual coills in about 15 minutes. It's as easy as removing the screw, uplug the connector, pull off plug, and thats it.
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Wednesday, September 9th, 2020 AT 5:35 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JLRADFORD
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 FORD F-150
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 86,000 MILES
My Service Engine Light came on and began to idle rough. I checked the code and it said left and right bank oxygen sensors were at fault. Not believing that all four oxygen sensors would go bad at one time, I bought one up stream sensor and one down stream sensor. I then installed, reset codes and light came on again. I switched the other two out with the new ones and still the engine light comes on. Now I have replaced the MAF sensor and still the service engine light comes on after resetting the codes. What do I do know?
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Wednesday, September 9th, 2020 AT 5:35 PM (Merged)
Tiny
FLEXY5
  • MECHANIC
  • 512 POSTS
Your codes (I'll bet) were never oxygen sensor failure codes. I'm betting you got P0171, P0174 codes, which are lean codes caused from an intake leak or a vaccum hose leak. The codes were set because the oxygen sensors were doing there jobs. The MAF sensor readings were low because the engine was sucking air from somewhere after the MAF so it robbed air from being pulled through the MAF. Look for the PCV hose. It is a common failure for this code. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.
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Wednesday, September 9th, 2020 AT 5:35 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LANDSCAPER5150
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 2003 FORD F-150
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 80,000 MILES
My service engine light is on, but I sense no problems
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Wednesday, September 9th, 2020 AT 5:35 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MASTERTECHTIM
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,750 POSTS
Take your truck to your local autozone, they can scan the computer for you, they do it for free then get back to us with the codes and we can tqake it from there
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Wednesday, September 9th, 2020 AT 5:35 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CDOCOWENS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 FORD F-150
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 135,000 MILES
My truck is riding rough when excelerating and decelerating especially between 1st and 2nd gear. I have no engine warning lights flashing. Could I have another issue besides transmission?
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Wednesday, September 9th, 2020 AT 5:36 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PICKELFARMER
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Once again I will reply with the U joints. I had this same problem on my 2000 F 150 as well as a squeeking sound while in revers. I changed out the rear drive line U joints and it fixed the problem. I have about 120,000 miles on my truck. Hope this helps.
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Wednesday, September 9th, 2020 AT 5:36 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PETROMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2003 FORD F-150
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 25,300 MILES
Service Engine Soon Light On showing Code PO171, PO174 too lean bank 1, and too lean bank 2. As I only have a little over 25000 miles on the truck I am kind of confused what the problem is due to the truck is running fine. It seems to be running the same as it was before the light came on. A mechanic used his OBD-11 scan tool, and cleared the codes only to have the light to come back on Two days later. The truck seems to me that there is no difference in performance.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Petroman
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Wednesday, September 9th, 2020 AT 5:36 PM (Merged)
Tiny
FALLOUTMAN2
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Was wondering if you fixed the problem my 2k f150 is doing the same
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Wednesday, September 9th, 2020 AT 5:36 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PETROMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I don't know how many miles you have on your truck, but if it's running fine I might have the answer to your problem. I cleaned the Mass Air Flow Sensor with an Mass Air Flow Sensor Cleaner that I bought at Napa for about 5.00 dollars. I cleaned it while it was in the Air Cleaner Housing. Spray it Sparingly as it will be a little hard to start if you use too much. NOTE] Do not touch the thin wire with anything, let the cleaner due the work. If you break the thin wire you just cost yourself about 150.00 dollars. After you spray the Sensor let it dry for about 15 mins then put Air Cleaner assembly back together. You will have to have the Code reset by somebody who has a Code Scanner. This procedure solved my problem, I hope it solves yours. Petroman
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Wednesday, September 9th, 2020 AT 5:36 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DEEREY
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
  • 2003 FORD F-150
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 113,000 MILES
Hi
The Sevice Engine Soon light came on a few days ago and on a couple occasions the enigne started idling rough (this happened both times, oddly enough at the drive-through window at fast food restaurants, could this be a hint of some type!) I put the vehicle in park and gave it a little gas and it seemed to clear it up. Vehicle runs fine otherwise.
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Wednesday, September 9th, 2020 AT 5:37 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Hi there,

Thank you for the donation,

Hmmm fast food and rough idle. Maybe your car is telling you something. Lol. Seriously this could be a problem with the idle control system, but with the check light on, you will have a set fault code in the ECU, a scan will read this code and this will help with the diagnostics, get a scan done and report the code here for more assistance.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Wednesday, September 9th, 2020 AT 5:37 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DEEREY
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
HI
Thanks for your quick response.
To add to the problems I'm already having the truck is now stalling out while idling in gear plus it appears to have a slight hesitation when revved up. I stopped by Autozone after I got off work today and an associate plugged in one of those analyzers. I don't remember the code it came up with but he said the code meant that the air/fuel system could be dirty & sold me some Sea Foam fuel treatment to put in the gas tank. He said it may take up to 200 miles of driving for the problem to clear up. Unless you all have any other suggestions I guess I'll play wait & see for now. Thanks
Doug
P.S. If this is any help the vehicle appears to run worse after it has warmed up.
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Wednesday, September 9th, 2020 AT 5:37 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Hi there,

The actual code will be a big help, but in the interim, see how you go with the cleaning agent, let me know how you get on.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Wednesday, September 9th, 2020 AT 5:37 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DEEREY
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
An update to a prevous reply. I tried the fuel treatment Autozone recommended but it didn't do any good. I went to Adavance Auto Parts yesterday, they ran a check and came to the conclusion it could be any one of the four Oxygen Sensors may be bad but wasn't able to tell which one. He recommended taking it to a shop to have it further tested. BTW the codes coming up are as follows: PO 171 & PO 174. I think he said it said with the codes "System Lean Inboard" & "System Lean Outboard" if that is any help. Thanks
Doug
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Wednesday, September 9th, 2020 AT 5:37 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Have you checked for any vacuum leaks as yet?

Mark (mhpautos)
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Wednesday, September 9th, 2020 AT 5:37 PM (Merged)

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