2002 diesel ~ emission PROBLEM light illuminated
 

1/16 update for JASON & STEWART (PD's ) below...

As per owners manual 2002 F350. page 9 & 218

The light to which I refer is a EMISSIONS SYSTEM LIGHT.

To the others who have responded with helpful advise.... Thank you.

Before I take my truck in for service can anyone give me a clue as to what I'm facing... Diagnosis & Cure?

2002 diesel dually... (130k miles) I was in Indiana in extreme cold (sub zero) drove to Florida --it sat for 2 weeks in 80 degree temps. It was problem free all the way to Florida.

When I started it (after sitting for 2 weeks) the emissions problem-dash light came on. The truck was stuttering and bucking...as I stepped on the gas pedal it acted like it was going to stall. I shut it off. Later started it problem free. Today as I drove at 40-50 mph the light came on... The tach was bobbing up and down...the entire truck was bucking like it was going to throw me threw the window. Hardly had enough power to get to my destination. two hours later it was fine... Until 5 hours later... As I approached a stop light... Light came on and I had to turn on my flashers as the truck was only able to go about 20 mph...bucking the whole time.

Any idea what's going on here? What a mechanic might tell me... When I take it in for service?

I had oil change & air filter change at walmart before my trip to FL. I added SeaFoam about 10 fill ups ago. Otherwise I have never had problems with my truck. Hope some one can advise me. Regard, Kimberly.

Agreed. It's not really an emissions warning light you're seeing. It's the check engine light. From your description, it sounds like another loose UVCH.

Read this thread. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...ck-shakes.html
(or at least the first part of it)

Crap, thanks Chris. I was reading her post trying to figure out what the heck she meant by emissions problem light. :-X22

To the OP, like Tom and Chris stated, you have classic symptoms for a loose UVCH.

Stewart

She Stewart, she....:-X22

Thanks Jason.

I completely missed the sign off.

Stewart

1/16 update for JASON & STEWART (PD's ) below...
 

1/16 update for JASON & STEWART (PD's ) below...

As per owners manual 2002 F350. page 9 & 218

The light to which I refer is a EMISSIONS SYSTEM LIGHT.

Very very sad. (PD)
 

1/16 update for JASON & STEWART (PD's ) below...

Kimberly, that presumes us men would have read the manual! C'mon, we're men!! ;)

All kidding aside, like Tom posted above, that light is called the SES light, or DTC light, or CEL light, etc.

Stewart

The manual on my 2002 calls it the same thing. It's misleading. Technically when your truck runs like this, emissions aren't ideal, but in the big picture, you've got more pressing issues than a little haze coming out the tailpipe because half the engine isn't running.

It is my understanding that any PC monitored emissions control component that will adversely affect emissions when out of range is required to illuminate the engine light. (EPA mandate). There are a ton of DTC (diagnostic trouble codes) that do not illuminate the engine light because they do not affect emissions. This is probably why the manual calls it an emissions system light, although I, like most, have never heard it called that because I have never read the owner's manual.