I've got a good one for you guys, I got a service engine light soon last week (on steady. I checked both caps and my level sending unit in my aux tank they where all good. So I reset with a battery disconnect and it has not come back on. The truck has been from 2000 ft to 12300 and back and from 2000 ft to sea level where we are at now, there was a lot a altitude changes in between but its been at sea level for a couple of weeks before the light. It also runs great and the sea level ping is a little better after the reset and its running 14.5 mpg and thats about normal for the driving I have been doing.

Denny

 

Same thing happened to me towing the trailer into the rocky mountains. And I did the same thing you did, reset the computer, and it hasn't come back on. And that was in July.

 

I always assumed it came on after a certain number of engine hours, reminding you to keep up with the scheduled service. I had one come on about a month ago and reset the battery like you all did and it never came on again.

 

All I can say is, next time you get the light, GET THE CODE(S) READ!!!!!!

Did I say that loud enough?

It's probably something to do with the altitude... the evaporative purge system wants to see a certain amount of gas vapor once in a while or it doesn't think it's working. Too much or too little, it'll store a code.

It would be real nice to diagnose this knowing what the codes were....

Otherwise, hey, it's a poltergeist... it's an alien ray gun... it's terrorists! Yeah, that's it.

All in fun guys, but had to rib you...

 

Does a service engine soon light mean a code is being thrown? I always thought a check engine light signified a code was there?

Either way, I am glad I drive the V10 that very rarely throws any codes!

 

Where we are staying for the winter theirs not a big chose of places to get that done maybe next time it will happen in a bigger area. Plus the light was bugging me .

Denny

 

I would have got the codes read but with a screaming baby, two other larger orangutan's, a dog, a grouchy wife and it being 105 outside, I just put my foot down to cover that last 600 miles as quick as I could.

I figured it would come back on sooner or later and I would deal with at home as the truck was running great. But it hasn't lit up since then.

 

I know, I know, kids...

Shoulda left the light on until you could get to somewhere to get it read

Just harpin' on ya, I guess...

This thread could qualify for a "what's your favorite question?" for a mods discussion.

"I get this check engine light on. So I reset it by disconnecting the battery and it hasn't come back. What could it be?"



And we all dance...

 

art is correct the faults most be pulled and tsb's checked. as many times there is a reflash needed to correct flase code problems. it also could be some thing as small as a loose/bad gas cap that made the light come on.
as to driving as long as it's not flashing your should be ok till it can be checked out

 

How are check engine lights and service engine lights different if they both mean a code is being thrown?

 

CEL (check engine light), SES (service engine soon), etc are all the same thing.

If that light is on, there's a code to be read.

Check your owner's manual for the full description

 

Correct!!!

 

This is not true. The check engine light, or service engine soon (same thing) light come on when the On Board Diagnostic system detects a fault, and a code is set. Yes, a code is always set when the light is illuminated and many times even when it is not. Pending codes will not set the light until they are "seen" again by OBD. If they are not ever seen again, then the light may never go on. Also, when the light goes out the code is not erased from memory right away. There are a number of drive cycles that need to be completed w/o the fault returning before the code is completly erased. If the light was just on, I would scan the vehicle anyway to see if it is stll there.

 

Toadisco

Many years back on some vehicles the check engine light did come on based on mileage or time in service... most notably on newer catalytic vehicles that had a O2 monitoring system they would come on at 75,000 ~ 90,000 miles and you had to get a tech to reset or turn off the light.. on my Nissan's it was as simple as disconnecting the "secret" module hidden under the dash...there was no procedure for the module use after it tripped the first time. ... The Factory fix was to always replace the o2 sensor, inspect the converter and disable the light...some vehicles actually had a service engine soon light that was timed to oil change intervals

I have known folks who drove for years with the light on because they refused to pay the dealer to "re-set" it once they learned that it was not tied to any actual fault..

Our Ford SuperDuty with OBDII implemented is a completely different animal and when the light is illuminated it is wise to get the codes read... or own a "reader" and later come here and ask what the code means..some are low impact and can be reset and not reoccur and others indicate impending doom...

Example of low impact...gas cap loose
Example of impending doom... Crank Angle Sensor or Cam Position Sensor intermittent signal

 

We guys after driving after the reset and burning all the gas I had on board (including the aux tank) and refilling with a different brand, I no longer have a ping at sea level (we are at 26ft) and the mileage went from 14 to 16 driving the same winding road (199 and 197 in OR and CAL) so I believe that it was the gas. So no more Pilot gas for me 2 cents a gal is not worth it.

Denny