1994 Ford Thunderbird CEL

WHAMMAKER

MEMBER
1994 FORD THUNDERBIRD
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
81,236 MILES

CEL recently illuminated on a trip but extinguished before returning home. What are some of the typical causes that are self correcting? I know running out of gas will self correct after 3 cold start/cool down cycles per the owners manual. But that was not the case here. Not even low on fuel.
What are some of the others? Is the code still stored?Although it is a 94 it does have OBD II.

2 Replies

MASTERTECHTIM

MECHANIC
4,749 POSTS

Code is probably stored but its not obd2. If you look under the hood you will see the old school eec connector that you will have to connect to in order to get code. A cause that comes to mind is a lean condition for the o2 sensor that will clear itself real quick.

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Sunday, March 30th, 2008 AT 7:02 PM

WHAMMAKER

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Mastertechtim,
This is a Ford, so even if it wasn't supposed to have OBD II, it does. The scanner connector is under the dash on the passenger side. Was probably assembled late in the MY so maybe has some 95 MY electronics?
Any other causes you can think of?
I had driven at highway speed for about 2 hours, stopped for a big mac and it lit op upon leaving the parking lot. As I looked back it fired quickly as normal but idle speed was very low for the first couple of seconds. Would that have messed with one of the O2 sensors?
Thanks for your quick response

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Sunday, March 30th, 2008 AT 7:34 PM