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engine light question

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Old Jun 9, 2009 | 07:54 AM
  #1  
forddriver17's Avatar
forddriver17
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From: easton, CT
engine light question

is there any way to tell why the engine light came on in my truck? its an 89 F250 7.3 and it just stays on all the time i know the chevys blink and you count the blinks but i havent found anything about the fords...
thanks
nick
 
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Old Jun 9, 2009 | 08:09 AM
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LCAM-01XA's Avatar
LCAM-01XA
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The red engine light comes on for two reasons only - coolant too hot, or oil pressure too low. Which one it is you can figure out by looking at both the temp gauge and the oil pressure gauge. However, sometimes the wires to the temperature sensor or the oil pressure switch get scuffed up and short out to the engine block, which also trips the light. I'd say if your oil pressure gauge reads normal, and so does your temp gauge, and you're obviously not overheating, then you got an issue with the wire for the temp sensor. There are actually two temp sensors, both in the front of the driver-side head - one is for the temp gauge, and one is for the red engine light, check both as I don't remember which is which. Oh yah, the Chev blinks the light and you can count that cause it has a PCM that controls the light, our trucks have no electronic engine controls, so the light is just an idiot light, or more like "now you're really screwed" light
 
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Old Jun 9, 2009 | 10:17 PM
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Dave Sponaugle
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Temp gauge sender goes in the block in front of the drivers side head.
Overheat light switch is in the head, front of the drivers side head about level with the bottom of the rocker cover.
 
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