You are driving down the road and all of a sudden your "Check Engine" light turns on. There are a few things you can do to troubleshoot the "Check Engine" light while you are on the road: Remove the gas cap and place it back on and inspect the engine for any glaring issues such as smoke or steam. These things could cause the light to appear. If you do this and the light does not go away, there is only one cost effective and time-saving way to troubleshoot the "Check Engine" light on your 2000 Ford Explorer.
Connect the onboard diagnostic code reader (OBDII) to the OBDII port located under the driver's side dash panel on your Explorer. You can purchase OBDII code readers at most auto part retailers. If you choose not to purchase a code readers, ask the salesperson if you can borrow the one they have so that you can test your vehicle.
Turn the ignition onto the auxiliary position. This turns on the Explorer's computer and the code reader.
Select "Read Trouble Codes" on the OBDII code reader. The OBDII will show you a code on the screen.
Compare the code shown on the OBDII scanner to a code deciphering book to determine what part on your engine caused the code. You can purchase the book at most auto part retail stores or you can look for an online website such as engine-light-help.com for a list of codes and what they mean.
