Check Engine light is on
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Alberta, Canada
Check Engine light is on
I just bought this truck, it's a 1998 F150 XLT SC/4x4 4.6 Auto
111km's on it and it's been running great. However I've noticed a few things:
1) Today I came up to a stop light and the idle became very bad, dropped a few hundred rpms and felt like it was going to stall. this only lasted for 5 seconds and then started running fine again, but the "Check Engine" light started flashing and is now on solid. Any ideas what this could be or what to do about this?
2) When braking (ceramic pads) the brakes seem touchy, that's not really the problem though.. sometimes if I have to break hard a feel a huge thump as if a wheel is just catching or something. It feels like it's coming from the front end. And then the brakes grab extremely hard. Anyone have ideas about this?
3) Lastly, I park on a sloped driveway. Sometimes when I put it in park and let the brake off the truck "backs up" down the driveway for 6-7 inces, even though it's in park. No the wheels aren't slipping, they're turning!? I have no idea about this one either?
ANY help would be appreciated - I don't mind taking it to a Ford dealer I just don't want to get taken for a ride....
Thx
111km's on it and it's been running great. However I've noticed a few things:
1) Today I came up to a stop light and the idle became very bad, dropped a few hundred rpms and felt like it was going to stall. this only lasted for 5 seconds and then started running fine again, but the "Check Engine" light started flashing and is now on solid. Any ideas what this could be or what to do about this?
2) When braking (ceramic pads) the brakes seem touchy, that's not really the problem though.. sometimes if I have to break hard a feel a huge thump as if a wheel is just catching or something. It feels like it's coming from the front end. And then the brakes grab extremely hard. Anyone have ideas about this?
3) Lastly, I park on a sloped driveway. Sometimes when I put it in park and let the brake off the truck "backs up" down the driveway for 6-7 inces, even though it's in park. No the wheels aren't slipping, they're turning!? I have no idea about this one either?
ANY help would be appreciated - I don't mind taking it to a Ford dealer I just don't want to get taken for a ride....
Thx
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 22,436
Likes: 17
From: Louisville,Ky.
Check Engine light is on
1) Take the truck to Auto-zone and have them run a scan check on the computer to see which code is triggering the light. It is free.
2) Could be a brake grab, check the tie-rods and things for play in the front end.
3) The park gear could be missing a tooth or something. Some roll is normal bit only and inch or two at the most. I would highly recommend using the parking brake. If you saw how small the pin is that holds the truck when in park, you would use the parking brake every time. It's not very big and whith it rolling that far, it could eventually snap it off and roll away.
Jimmy
2) Could be a brake grab, check the tie-rods and things for play in the front end.
3) The park gear could be missing a tooth or something. Some roll is normal bit only and inch or two at the most. I would highly recommend using the parking brake. If you saw how small the pin is that holds the truck when in park, you would use the parking brake every time. It's not very big and whith it rolling that far, it could eventually snap it off and roll away.
Jimmy
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Alberta, Canada
Check Engine light is on
Thanks for the adivce. I'll check out the front end for the brake issue. As I'm from Canada, do you know of a store here that would check the code? If I take it to ford will they charge me an arm and a leg?
Thx
Thx
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Alberta, Canada
Check Engine light is on
Thanks lxman1. I would assume that taking it to Ford will cost $100 just to check the code. Is there a way to clear the check ehine light myself or does that only happen when the code is scanned?
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 22,436
Likes: 17
From: Louisville,Ky.
Check Engine light is on
I purchased my own scanner for $150 US at Auto-zone. You may be alble to find one at a parts store near you or you can order one Thru JCWhittney. For the price of the scanner, you can check it twice and you are already saving money. It will also let you reset the light. Unhooking the battery doesn't work for the OBD-II like it did on the older cars.
Jimmy
Jimmy
