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CEL On?

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Old Jan 26, 2008 | 02:28 PM
  #1  
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CEL On?

So yesterday i took a 3 hour drive to Maine, CEL was on most pretty much the whole ride. I have no idea why though. Oil pressure is fine, gas cap tight, coolant fine. Ran fine, nothing out of the ordinary. If i shut the truck off for a min and turned it back on, it wouldnt come back on until about a minute or two of driving.

The only thing i can think of is the Tepmerature Sender, it hasnt really worked in a while and doesnt show a temperature at all. When i started it and drove off this morning, it took 10-20 mins to come on.. any ideas?
 
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Old Jan 26, 2008 | 02:55 PM
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Cmon Nextras... Lol, can't you already see the replies flooding in all saying the same thing...?

PULL THE CODES!!

Eliminates all guess work and it's super easy to do. That'll tell you EXACTLY why it's on.
 
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Old Jan 26, 2008 | 03:31 PM
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How do you pull the codes? Its steady on, not flashing and I dont have a scanner
 
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Old Jan 26, 2008 | 03:40 PM
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You can either buy a cheap code reader for around $30 or you can use the free (yet tedious) method of using a paper clip or a piece of wire:
http://www.fordfuelinjection.com/?p=13
 
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Old Jan 27, 2008 | 11:13 AM
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BTW.. the dash temp gauge has it's own sensor that is not connected to the computer. It's a small thing about the size of a dime with a single wire pushed on over a stud in the top of the sensor.
 
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Old Jan 27, 2008 | 01:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Conanski
BTW.. the dash temp gauge has it's own sensor that is not connected to the computer. It's a small thing about the size of a dime with a single wire pushed on over a stud in the top of the sensor.
interesting tid bit, glad you said that before i replcaed the Temperature unit on the engine itself.

So when i was on break today at work, i opened the radiator and couldnt see coolant so i added some, i was able to add roughly a quart more or less so i have a feeling that what threw the CEL.. drove a bit to get it up to temp, no light so far
 
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Old Jan 28, 2008 | 06:22 PM
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Ok so now i need some help, truck threw a CEL again... when i parked i got out and looked under the hood, couldnt see anything out of the ordinary... When i looked under the front of the truck, i saw coolant just infront of the front differential, metal "U" shaped thing, coolant was sitting on the bottom of it... bad water pump?

Ugg this really sucks.. help please
 
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Old Jan 28, 2008 | 06:37 PM
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Originally Posted by NeXtras
Ok so now i need some help, truck threw a CEL again... when i parked i got out and looked under the hood, couldnt see anything out of the ordinary... When i looked under the front of the truck, i saw coolant just infront of the front differential, metal "U" shaped thing, coolant was sitting on the bottom of it... bad water pump?

Ugg this really sucks.. help please
Look up at your water pump from the bottom. Generally a bad water pump will seep a bit of coolant out of the 'weep hole'. There is a small hole on the bottom-driver side of the pump, check to see if it's wet.
 
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Old Jan 28, 2008 | 06:43 PM
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Still need to pull the codes. www.fordfuelinjection.com just get it over with. I did it in about 5 minutes with a paper clip.

I'd say you've probably got a fairly serious issue if you've got coolant somewhere that's not the cooling system, but eliminate the guesswork by pulling the codes. It could be something unrelated like an O2 sensor, but best to get it out of the way.

You're losing coolant for sure. Now we just have to track down where.
 
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Old Jan 28, 2008 | 06:47 PM
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1994 F150 is OBD1, if you go in to by a scan tool be sure to tell them what you're using it on. It would cost more but a scan tool that can do CAN, OBD1 and OBD2 might be worth the money if you also have any vehicles 96 or newer. Pulling the code will make your diagnosis much easier.
 

Last edited by Ron W.; Jan 28, 2008 at 06:49 PM.
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Old Jan 28, 2008 | 06:56 PM
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Yeah Nextras why are you so reluctant to pull the codes?! It's pretty much the EASIEST thing you can do and it will give you a huge idea as to what the problem is... Quit being so stubborn.
 
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Old Jan 28, 2008 | 08:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Skandocious
Yeah Nextras why are you so reluctant to pull the codes?! It's pretty much the EASIEST thing you can do and it will give you a huge idea as to what the problem is... Quit being so stubborn.
I'm not being stubborn, there just isnt enough hours in the day to do everything, i work everyday after school (everysay) and dont get out until its dark.. i just havent had the time to tinker..
 
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Old Jan 28, 2008 | 09:14 PM
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Originally Posted by NeXtras
I'm not being stubborn, there just isnt enough hours in the day to do everything, i work everyday after school (everysay) and dont get out until its dark.. i just havent had the time to tinker..
Okay well then you don't really need help right yet if you can't perform any sort of diagnosis yet... It's just very hard for us to help you if you can't give us more information about whats going on, namely what the CEL is trying to tell us. Get those codes pulled and report back then we'll go from there.
 
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Old Jan 28, 2008 | 09:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Skandocious
Okay well then you don't really need help right yet if you can't perform any sort of diagnosis yet... It's just very hard for us to help you if you can't give us more information about whats going on, namely what the CEL is trying to tell us. Get those codes pulled and report back then we'll go from there.
Just trying to see if theres anything painfly obvious lol that seems to happen alot "hey white smoke, jee must be burning oil" that kinda thing...

Even with the coolant low, i drove it for 3 hours straight, 2 times and it didnt overheat or boil over... thats y im asking.. theres alot that make sthe light kick, just thought id ask, when i see crap like this i just think "question for the forum buds"
 
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Old Jan 28, 2008 | 09:26 PM
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Originally Posted by NeXtras
interesting tid bit, glad you said that before i replcaed the Temperature unit on the engine itself.

So when i was on break today at work, i opened the radiator and couldnt see coolant so i added some, i was able to add roughly a quart more or less so i have a feeling that what threw the CEL.. drove a bit to get it up to temp, no light so far
read codes or have a shop do it for you when you are in school.

get or use your manual to identify all the sensors on your engine/truck before you start replacing them.
 
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