Question-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
I recently bought a 2002 Ford F-150 Sport with a 6 cylinder. My Service Engine Soon light came on yesterday. I had to get the oil changed anyway, so I thought that may be the problem. The guy changing the oil pressed my reset button on the mileage. It came up T134.4, I just checked it again, now it has T179.6
What does all that mean? And how do I go about getting it fixed without it costing an arm & leg?
Answer -
Hi Jay,
Are you sure you are not reading trip odometer readings?
Van
Hi Van,
I don't know what that is. The reset button is to the right of the steering wheel on the dash. I've never noticed it before, until then. But when you push reset, the T and the numbers, are behind the odometer reading. This pickup didn't have any manuals when I bought it. I'm beginning to think there's something seriously wrong with the truck. The gas mileage sucks. I've got to fill it up at least twice a week. Of course, I do run a paper route for the Dallas Morning News, and do put about 75 miles a day on the truck.
Jay
Answer -
Hi Jay,
I think if you push that button, one time it will say odometer, which is all the miles on the truck, and can't be erased.
Push it again, and it tells the miles on the trip since the trip meter was reset to zero.
To reset it, I believe you just hold the button in for a couple seconds, and it will go to zero, and start counting from there as you drive.
Some people reset that every time they fill the gas tank.
You may even press it again, and get a trip 2, which allows you to measure two different events.
See if that isn't it.
Van
Hi Van,
I was trying to get back to you yesterday. That IS a trip odometer.Talk about feeling really stupid. I just left it one while doing the paper route. But what I don't understand is, why didn't it have more that the 3 digits, when I never knew it was there? I've put 11,000 miles on it since January. Now all I've got to do is figure out the Service Engine Soon light. The Ford dealership here charges out the kazoo just to look at it. I really appreciate your help and time. Have a great weekend. I'll recommend this site to my friends.
AnswerHi Jay,
That truck should have OBDII, which just about everything now has. That is On Board Diagnostics, generation 2.
Lots of parts houses will connect a scan tool, or let you connect it to read the codes, hoping you will buy any needed parts from them.
You can buy a very cheap code reader also, which will connect to most vehicles newer than about 90 or so.
Read the codes, and see what it says.
The light can be turned on in some vehicles by something as simple as the gascap seal leaking.
Vacuum hose leaks are another.
Sure, you could have something like an oxygen sensor bad, but if you get a code such as rich oxygen sensor reading, it doesn't mean the oxygen sensor is bad....it could be getting a correct reading for something like a fouled spark plug allowing a rich exhaust, so there is a little learning curve you need to consider.
But reading the codes is the first step.
By the way, a leak in the vacuum system, like a dirty EGR valve, leaking intake gasket, split hose, etc, will give a lean oxygen sensor reading.
Good luck,
Van
