Check Engine Light, 2000 Explorer

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Mar 13, 2003 | 08:15 PM

vw_fan17

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Check Engine Light, 2000 Explorer

Hi, all. Pretty nice set of forums ya got here!

My new girlfriend halfway across the continent (that's a whole 'nother thread in itself

) just had her "check engine" light come on in her 2000 Explorer.

She bought the car used, and didn't get a manual with it (yeah, I know..). I drove it when I visited her, but I didn't look under the hood, and she's not that interested in cars.. It has 4WD, and I'm pretty sure it's a V6, although I have no idea whether it's the OHV or the SOHC.

Anyway - how does the OBD-II connector work with Fords (as you might guess - I have no experience with Fords)? Does it have a user-accessible mode like my Corrado, where if I short 2 terminals, the check engine light will blink out the codes? Or is this strictly a dealer-only item?

Anyone have a link handy to a list of all the codes?

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
VW Fan
ps. Not trying to start any flamewars with the name, I've just used it for years..

Mar 13, 2003 | 08:21 PM

Diesel_Dummy _

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Check Engine Light, 2000 Explorer

you can get OBDII scanners at autozone exe for under 150 bucks

i'd bet she left the cas cap loose , that will set the light everytime.

Mar 13, 2003 | 08:23 PM

vw_fan17

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Check Engine Light, 2000 Explorer

Thanks for the tip. Yeah, the gas cap WAS pretty annoying to screw on and off. I'll tell her to check that first!

Not really looking to spend $150 for scanner though - was wondering if there was a cheap (although maybe tedious) way..

VW

Mar 13, 2003 | 08:25 PM

Diesel_Dummy _

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Check Engine Light, 2000 Explorer

no other way to pull codes , i could be wrong, but theres over 5000 OBDII codes and to have the CEL blink that many times would be anoying to try to follow.

check this site out , might be some helpfull info

http://www.batauto.com/

Mar 13, 2003 | 09:13 PM

reberhardt

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From: Kelseyville, CA

Check Engine Light, 2000 Explorer

Another way to pull the codes is by taking it to Autozone. Most Autozone's will still pull the codes for free. Be sure she writes down the code number and doesn't buy what they try to sell her. Post the codes here and someone will be able to help.

Mar 13, 2003 | 09:37 PM

vw_fan17

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Check Engine Light, 2000 Explorer

Diesel - the way it works on my Corrado (it's actually pre-OBD2, but has the OBD2 connector) is that you blink one digit at a time, and then tell it to move to the next one when you've written that one down.

5000 codes = 4 digits, so 4 sets of blinks, up to 10 blinks per set. Not that hard to follow, actually. Takes about 3-5 minutes to blink out a code.

Thanks for the suggestion, reberhardt. Ist dass zufaellig ein deutscher Name?

VW

Mar 14, 2003 | 10:26 AM

reberhardt

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From: Kelseyville, CA

Check Engine Light, 2000 Explorer

There is no such mode with OBD-II vehicles like the pre-OBD-II vehicles had. The data is stored in the computer and only retreivable by a scanner that can talk to it using the proper protocol. It is in a format similar to a binary format until it gets decoded to a legible format.

My ancestors about 3 generations back are from Germany.