All Ford trucks produced from 1996 on use an onboard diagnostics called OBDII. The OBDII constantly completes diagnostic scans of your Ford truck and monitors for any issues. If it notices an issue, the "Check Engine" light comes on. This lets you know that the OBDII stored a trouble code in the truck's computer. After you replace the defective part on the vehicle, you have to clear the Ford truck's trouble code using an OBDII scanner.
Locate the OBDII port on your Ford truck. On most models, the OBDII is located under the steering column on the dash panel. Plug the OBDII scanner into the OBDII port on your truck.
Turn the ignition key to the "auxiliary" position. This turns on the truck's computer and the OBDII scanner. Do not start the truck or turn the key off until instructed to do so by the OBDII scanner.
Select "Trouble Codes" on your OBDII scanner and then select "Clear Codes." This removes all stored codes from the computer.
Turn off the ignition when the OBDII scanner tells you to do so. Once off, you can unplug the scanner.
