I own a 1994 F150 Flareside with 143 k miles. After 20 years with her I am looking to sell it and move up to a F250. Before selling I want to get it in a reliable running condition. The problem is the check engine light comes on intermittently. Occures more often when the outside temperature is high and eventually goes out, at least for a while before returning. I took it to the local Ford dealer and was told that the 94s did not store the error codes so they could not diagnose the problem. I'm a long cry from a shade tree mechanic so I've been taking it to the same dealer for 20 years and have been treated fairly. Anyone in the listening audience have any suggestion as to how a mechanically challanged person can diagnose the the check engine light?

 

Friggen lazy/clueless *******s.. so much for you having a quality Ford dealer.. pulling the codes on these trucks couldn't be much easier.

If you want the complete foolproof method go buy a cheap code reader like the Equus 3145..
But there is also a way to do it without any special tools. First find the EEC test harness under the hood on the drivers side inner fender, then put a jumper wire(paperclip) between the Sig_RTN and STI(Self Test In) wires, turn the key to run(engine off) and count the flashes on the check engine light. The codes are flashed in a specific order so you'll want to a pen and paper to copy them down and familiarize yourself with this document before attempting it. Fuel Injection Technical Library » How To Run a Self-Test
Also note you can restart the sequence at any time by turning the key off and and on again. If you have a hard time with this make a little movie of the flashes with your phone and post it up.. we'll help you decode it. Also note that your truck should produce 3 digit codes and you will find lots more info about this EFI system and code definitions from the main page of the site I linked above.. Fuel Injection Technical Library

 

Thanks Paul. This looks doable even for me. There is a wealth of information on the site you attached. Your does reply makes me wonder about the quality of service I have been receiving from my local Ford dealer.

 

That dealer like Conanski said is a bunch of lazy good for nothing *******s..

Everything as usual Conanski posted is correct..