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FordFord Check Engine Light Questions & Answers

This page will list all the Check Engine Light questions and answers asked of us pertaining to Ford vehicles. Some vehicles include F-150, Ranger, Taurus, Mustang, Explorer, and Escort.


Question: (translated from German to English): Ford F 150, Harley Edition, built in 2003. Service engine soon lights up, but it changed nothing on the road. The code is P0380. If the error Deleted, you can only go back a very long time, until the error comes back. - Bruno from Deutschland, December 2008

Answer: Hi Bruno. A code P0380 is X. The reason the code keeps returning is because something needs attention.


1997 Ford Explorer Engine LightQuestion: I have a 1998 Ford Expedition with 110,000 miles. 4x4 V-8 engine. I recently had a friend change the brake pads when he returned it the check engine light was on and the ac stopped blowing cold. I learned a lesson, leave it to the pros. What could have happened? - Laura, September 2008

Answer: Hi Laura. Well normally changing the brake pads shouldn't cause issues like that. I'm merely guessing here but I'd guess the person who replaced the brakes bumped something loose or forgot to plug a connector back in. Really it could be a lot of things. Now that the check engine light is on, read this article on what to do next. Good luck Laura.


1997 Ford Explorer Engine LightQuestion: I went to get my 97 explorer inspected,and i failed because that: 1- MIL ENGINE OFF FAIL 2- MIL ENGINE ON PASS 3- DLC TAMPERING PASS 4- READINESS STATUS PASS 5- MIL CMD STATUS PASS SO I FAILED BECAUSE NUMBER 1. THE ENGINE SIGN ON THE DASHBOARD IS NOT LIGHT-UP. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT`S CAUSING THAT AND WHAT I NEED TO DO? - Niko, September 2008

Answer: Hi Niko. MIL stands for Malfunction Indicator Lamp. That refers to the Check Engine Light or Service Engine Soon light. It seems to me that the engine light on the dash is burned out or has been removed. First thing's first. You need to get that light bulb replaced and get the trouble codes read. When the MIL stays illuminated it is telling the driver that something is wrong and needs attention. In your case you were not aware because the bulb is not work (for whatever reason, see above). Once you do those two things you'll have a starting point for repairs on your Explorer. You can get more information on what to do next by reading this article - [My check engine light is on, what should I do?]. Thanks for the question and good luck with your check engine light issue Niko.


1998 Ford EscortQuestion: My 98 ford escort has a code 0405 EGR Sensor A circuit low, what should I look for? - Ray, September 2008

Answer: Hi Ray. The code is technically P0405 EGR Sensor Circuit Low Voltage Detected. You should locate the EGR sensor and verify all wiring & connectors leading to it. Likely there's a problem with the wiring/connectors or the sensor has failed. First check the wiring and then check if the sensor is operating properly. Good luck!


2002 Ford Mustang V6Question: My car is 2002 Ford Mustang with 175,00 miles and it is a v6.the check engine light came on to it auto zone they said it was giving a code P0460. What I need is there anyting that i can try before taking my to the shop. I mixed gas the other day, so could that started the problem? - Dot, September 2008

Answer: Hi Dot. A P0460 code is described as Fuel Level Sensor Circuit Malfunction. I'm not sure what you mean by you mixed gas, does that mean you switched to a different station or octane level? Does the gas gauge still work fine? As long as it works fine you could keep driving for a few more tanks to see if the problem goes away. If you overfill or run the tank too low it can cause issues with the fuel sender. When the pump clicks off, you're done filling. Though at 175K miles the fuel sender could just have gone bad. If you start to see symptoms then take it into the shop definitely. About the only thing you could do prior to that is if you're comfortable you could use a digital volt ohm meter (DVOM) and measure the sensor readings at the tank (at the electrical connections). Most people are not comfortable doing that, so don't worry. Good luck!


1998 Ford Escort ZX2Question: i have a 1998 ford escort zx2 my engine code was p0171 system to lean my light started flashing i have on. when i press the gas my pedel shakes my car feels like it is driving on rocks. when i have it in park the smoke out the tail pipe goes puff puff and you can visiual see it. it has a hard time gaining speed from a stop. - Roxy, August 2008

Answer: Hi Roxy! The code P0171 (& P0174) is fairly common on Ford vehicles. There are a few things to check first when confronted with a P0171 trouble code. You can try cleaning the Mass Air Flow sensor (MAF) using electrical contact cleaner (be careful, it's delicate). You'll also want to check for vacuum leaks. I'm not sure if your particular car has a DPFE (differential pressure feedback) sensor, but that's something to check out. See if it's working like it should. Those are some common things, the problem could also include a leaking intake manifold gasket, clogged fuel filter, etc.

Please don't just throw parts at the problem. Do a proper diagnostic and narrow down where the problem is coming from. If in doubt as to your ability to perform the above, please contact a trusted, qualified technician. Thanks for your question.