I have an 1989 f250 7.5L 460. I have 2 "engine lights" on my dash one is a orange "check engine" the other is a red "engine" light. the red stays illuminated. My question are:
1- what is the difference between the two
2- what is the red "engine" light telling me.
FYI I have good oil pressure

 

The Red one is for the engine (oil pressure low, water temp high).
The Orange one is the computer (emission problem, fuel problem, ...).

 

do all trucks have these two seperate lights? or is there a year range of them? thanks

 

I think just the 88-90 had them (maybe also 91) but could be wrong.

But only the ones with a Tachometer had them both.

 

so if my oil pressure is good and i have had a coolant system test that passed why would the light still be on? besides removing the bulb how do i get the light to go off

 

How do you know the oil pressure is good? If you have an aftermarket gauge, the sending unit may have been disconnected causing the light.

Also, even if your coolant system "test" passed, that doesn't mean you aren't overheating.

 

I hate to bump such an old thread, but it seems to be a good one. Last night I was out cruising after I cut my muffler off in my 1990 bricknose F-250, 5.0, 5 speed. The truck has had a motor swap done by the previous owner, and the orange check engine light has been on since I bought it. But all of a sudded the red "ENGINE" light came on so I pulled over and let it sit, while I checked the oil. Then when I started it back up it started running really bad like it was starved for fuel. Then after a few more times checking it all over, I drove it home and it ran fine. I'm not sure, but I don't think it was over heating, I have 2 electric fans wired up to a toggle swich and I kept them on the whole time. Has anyone here ran into a similar problem, and what is every possible trigger for the red check engine light? My friend with the exact same truck with a 351, also cut off his muffler and got the same red light, just like I did the same day. He thinks there's not enough back pressure, But I cut mine under the bed, so there's plenty of pipe. Any help is appreciated.

 

The red "engine" light only comes on for low OP or high water temp AFAIK. There is a little module on the back of the instrument cluster that monitors those 2 inputs and turns on the light as needed. It was deleted in the 1991 models but you can add the module from an earlier truck (I have) and it will work as intended.

 

I disconnected my battery, tapped the brakes to get all the power out of it, and let it sit an hour to clear out the "computer". After I started it back up the light didn't come back on. I have no working gauges at all, so if I can get the trans and motor mount fixed, Ill buy some gauges and keep an eye on the temp and oil pressure. I've only owned the truck for about a week, and first it starts running bad so I do a $80 tune up, then it brakes a motor mount so I order new ones, and now all of a sudden 1st and 3rd don't work on the M5OD...

 

 

Does it come on when you turn the key to ON/Run position ?

 

 

I'm quessing your bulb is out or loose in the socket..
Could be other things, but I would check the bulb.

 

Or your instrument cluster does not have the module on the back that controls the Engine light.