I have a 1997 F-150 4.2 L, V-6
When I go on long trips, my check engine light comes on after a while. The engine runs fine with no apparent sign of misfire or anything like that. When I pull over, the light stays on even after I restart the truck. It will not go off until I disconnect the neg. battery cable and then restart. When I do the "turn the key three times and count the blinks thing," (which i was told to do) my engine light blinks twice. flashes on, turns off, and then stays on. Any clues? Does anyone know the codes for the blinks? they would be VERY helpful.

 

Your truck is OBDII I believe. Take it to autozone or somewhere that does code reading for free. If the light is not on when you go in, make sure they check the memory codes. If it hasn't come on since the last time you pulled the battery cable, you will have to wait till it comes on again to set the code, and then get it checked, since you are erasing the codes by pulling the battery cable.

 

Aside of all this, i did not mention other problems with the truck,
-the dome light does not turn off when passenger side door is opened
-Windshield Washers tend to wash on their own and i have trouble turning it off (this happens at the most embarassing times; at crosswalks, in parking lots, right before i turn the truck off. not fun)
-Dome light switch does not work
-odd squeek like a repititious bird between my rear diff and my transmission. I have no clue what it could be, nothing is there to squeek, it goes with acceleration, not breaks or my diff. i considered the Universal but it seems too far back. wierd.

Thats about all i can think about since i posted about the check engine light

If anyone has ideas of what could be what... please tell me. this is driving me nuts

Again it is a 2WD 1997 f-150 4.2L-V6. I know i have the 3.55 rear end but i do not know what transmission is in it. thats all i know about it. Ohh i know it has the big alternater not the small one, but i know that cus i had to replace that also among other things. but that really dosent have anything to do with anything. Thanks!

 

"odd squeek like a repititious bird between my rear diff and my transmission. I have no clue what it could be, nothing is there to squeek, it goes with acceleration, not breaks or my diff. i considered the Universal but it seems too far back. wierd"

This sounds like one of your u-joints is dry. Pull the driveshaft out, and make sure your joints move freely. And I would jump on this as soon as possible. If it is one of your u-joints. it's just a matter of time, and it's going to fail. An this won't be a minor annoyance, but something that could really ruin your day.

You can tell by the speed of the squeak. If you are driving slow, imagine the speed of the your tire rotation. If the squeak is alot faster than the tire speed, then it's probably a u-joint, since the driveshaft turns about 3 times faster than the tires.