Check Engine light on now!

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Oct 9, 2005 | 12:28 PM

BlueOvalfan85

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Check Engine light on now!

Last night, when my parents and I returned from visiting grandparents, I hit a steep hill and floored it. It skipped BIG TIME and then the check engine light flashed and stayed on.

Plus the battery light came back on! It refused to go out. The lights suddenly went real bright for a few seconds and then were normal again. This continued all the way home.

I'm real ticked off at this. It has been so good to me over the past year. Why is this happening to me?

I want to get my truck sorted out!

I had a talk with the dealer last week and he said it was $87 bucks for a set of plug wires for my truck. Is that too much?

Thanks for your help!

Oct 10, 2005 | 06:43 PM

BrianA

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From: Trussville, Alabama

BOF,
Have you had the code read? That would help a lot.
$87 is a little high for plug wires. I got my Motorcrafts for about half that at a distributor type shop (sells to garages, etc).

Did the miss seem electrical or more fuel/air?

Oct 10, 2005 | 07:44 PM

BlueOvalfan85

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I had the dealer check out the truck. The results were: #1 cylinder misfiring. I had one of the plugs tested and discovered the spark was jumping around from one end to the other, not straight through. The tip of the electrode was white, indicating that it was running real lean. The dealer gave me a bottle of silicone brake caliper grease and I put some in all 6 plug wires. The truck runs ALOT better now. No more skipping or anything.

But I'm not out of the woods yet because the battery light is getting real persistent. I checked out the battery and charging system. Both were good.

I even toggled the wires on the alternator and it didn't light but it lights up under load. What the heck is goin' on? This one has me stumped!

The miss was more electrical because of the spark jumping around.

I'll let you know how I'm doing with the battery light in the next few days.

Thanks!

Oct 11, 2005 | 10:21 AM

BrianA

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From: Trussville, Alabama

When the battery light comes on, what is the volatge measured at the battery? (assuming you have a volt meter handy)
The battery light indicates a problem associated with the charging system.
The volt meter on the dash just displayes the battery voltage.

So, if your battery light is coming on / going off, then there is a problem with the charging system - or at least the truck thinks there is one.

I believe normal voltage at the battery with the engine running, and the alternator operating properly, is about 14.4 volts.

Keep us posted.

Oct 12, 2005 | 07:43 PM

BlueOvalfan85

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I have to find a voltmeter and measure the voltage. I wish I had a true voltmeter gauge on my truck. That would help a lot, but I'm too lazy to order the gauges and A-pillar gauge pods. I gotta do something about it before something drastic and expensive happens!

Could it be a short somewhere in the system? I know that is not likely, but anything could be possible.

I'll let you know when I find a voltmeter and measure the voltage.

Thanks!

Oct 20, 2005 | 08:53 PM

BlueOvalfan85

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UPDATE: the voltage at the battery with the engine off is 12.89 volts and 14.65-14.68 with the engine running. Both are in the normal range. The dealer thinks the bulb is trying to ground itself or something. The light still flashes, so I'm gonna swap the old cluster out and replace it with a cluster with factory tachometer soon.

Let me know what else could be triggering the light!

Thanks!