I have a 2001 F-150 with the 4.6L and 80,000 miles. The "service engine soon" light just came on. Is there a typical reason these lights come on at this milage? Is there a way to check it myself or is it a dealer issue.

 

Autozone will check your codes for free.

 

I too have a 2001 F-150 with the 4.6 and my service engine soon light came on today at 46,005 miles. I don't think it is anything major but I'll get it checked out soon and I will also watch here for any more information.

 

This happened to me a couple of months ago in my 1999 4.2L. It was just a batch of dirty gas. Had you filled up just before the light came on? If so, wait until your next fill up. It took about a day after I filled up again and mine went back off. It has not re-occurred.

 

There is a reason it came on. First check to make shure your gas cap is on tight. Then go to auto zone and have them pull the code if you dont have a micro tuner.
I have a micro tuner and just pulled a code from my friends 01 v6. It came up as poor EGR circulation. That will at least give you a starting point.

 

Out of the hunderds of codes the pcm will send when there's a problem. Some of them are minor and the light goes off after a driving cycle or two, but the problem is still there! Have the pcm codes pulled and record the results, they are stored on the pcm untill cleared, some one here on the boards will tell you what the code means. Auto zone will pull the codes for you for free.

One other way to check for none recurring codes is to pull the ground cable from your battery for a few minutes (good idea to turn on your headlights for that few minutes also to help drain the electrical circiut). The only problem with clearing the pcm this way, you never new what threw the code in the first place unless it happens again in the next few driving cycles, then you know the problem still is there.

Gene

 

It doesn't come on at a particular mileage. Until the code is retrieved, the problem and solution are speculation at best.

 

Me again. I went to Auto Zone after work today and they scaned it and the diagnosis was poor EGR circulation. Before changing the O2 sensor or EGR valve I am going to attempt to clean them first with carb cleaner to see if that does the trick.

 

Nah Aah...the return ports behind you throttle body are clogged up...They need to be cleaned out...Do a search and you'll find how