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Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable Check Engine Light (Gas Cap)

16 messages,  Last post on Jun 04, 2009 at 7:34 AM

You are in the Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Taurus, Mercury Sable, Sedan

Messages Page 2 of 2

#7 of 16 follow up on Engine check light by bpiri

Jul 01, 2007 (7:46 pm)

As I stated before I got a new gas cap and had the gargre reset the computter. then my wife filled the tank and didnt tighten the cap. so the next day driving the light came on
At the next stop I got out and checked the cap, and tighten it. the light was still on. so the next time I was near the shop I asked them to clear it n see if there was another problem. they check it and said that if the light comes back on I should take it to ford, because they dont have the equipment to check what is going on.
Could anyone tell me what my nexty step should be? As of now the light is off!

#8 of 16 Re: follow up on Engine check light [bpiri] by jasmith52

Jul 02, 2007 (5:46 pm)

Replying to: bpiri (Jul 01, 2007 7:46 pm)
Your next step is to make sure that the gas cap is tight. If the light stays off then you are home free.
 
If the light comes back on and the gas cap has been tight then you may have a problem. Remember though that if the light comes back on it takes several cycles to go off after the problem has been resolved.

#9 of 16 99 Taurus check engine light by jnach

Jul 10, 2007 (11:14 am)

Can check engine light mean that the transmission is about to fail in my 99 Taurus?

#10 of 16 Re: 99 Taurus check engine light [jnach] by jasmith52

Jul 11, 2007 (3:22 pm)

Replying to: jnach (Jul 10, 2007 11:14 am)
That seems unlikely. The check engine light is related to smog emissions.
 
However since I am not a check-engine light expert I will stand corrected if someone "in-the-know" enlightens us.

#11 of 16 New about CHECK ENGINE LIGHT by bpiri

Jul 19, 2007 (9:50 am)

if you have been following this question about the check engine light. Here is the update;
today I took it in Ford for their testing only, They did what they do for this dinostic test. It showed a leak at the tub of the gas filler tub. To replace with a ford part and labor would cost about $500.00 + - Today it cost $80 dollars.
Now I look for a after market one or use at the junkies. I even was thinking if I found it would I be able to patch it with something.
I saw a question about this light and a transmission. I belive this light has nothing to do with anything other then emissions.

#12 of 16 check engine light by bpiri

Jul 19, 2007 (7:08 pm)

if you have been following this question about the check engine light. Here is the update;
today I took it in Ford for their testing only, They did what they do for this dinostic test. It showed a leak at the tub of the gas filler tub. To replace with a ford part and labor would cost about $500.00 + - Today it cost $80 dollars.
Now I look for a after market one or use at the junkies. I even was thinking if I found it would I be able to patch it with something.
I saw a question about this light and a transmission. I belive this light has nothing to do with anything other then emissions.

#14 of 16 help getting into 1993 ford taurus trunk cant open with key and trying to e by jjl52323

Jan 27, 2008 (1:17 pm)

#15 of 16 EGR, Evap, Cat "Not Ready" on 2001 Taurus by bbork10002

May 29, 2009 (8:46 am)

To make a long story short, I bought an OBDII scanner recently to clear a "check engine" light that occasionally came on. I had no idea that emissions inspection uses the same OBD plug to pass or fail the car. I did not buy it to cheat inspection.
 
My (wife's) Taurus is up for inspection but the airbag light was on. I called my mechanic who said the airbag light being on will not cause my inspection to fail. However, he ran out of stickers.
 
So I called Sears Auto and asked about the airbag light being on. Sears told me yes, my car will fail inspection if the airbag light is on.
 
So I used my OBDII scanner hoping it would clear the airbag light. It did not. However, when I adjusted the seat, the airbag light came off. Weird but that's good.
 
I went in for inspection at another shop (not Sears and not my mechanic). It failed because it showed 5 sensors "not ready" including 2 for "oxygen"-something and 3 for EGR, Evap, and Cat.
 
My mechanic told me to drive it around for at least 30 miles mix of highway and local traffic. I ran it for 60 miles already but only the "oxygen" sensors were cleared, the other 3 -- EGR, Evap and Cat are still "not ready".
 
Question: I don't mind driving the car around some more. But can I use my OBDII scanner to check if the remaining 3 sensors are ready? This way, as soon as the 3 sensors are ready, I can stop driving around.
 
Thanks a lot!

#16 of 16 Re: EGR, Evap, Cat "Not Ready" on 2001 Taurus [bbork10002] by bbork10002

Jun 04, 2009 (7:34 am)

Replying to: bbork10002 (May 29, 2009 8:46 am)
Just to answer my own question, in case someone experiences the same problem:
 
I fixed it. I followed the instructions for evap, catalyst, and egr (my 3 "not ready" sensors) in this webpage:
 
http://www.obdii.com/drivecycleford.html
 
The idea is to drive smoothly -- no turns, no hills -- to avoid fuel sloshing around in the tank for a few miles at 55 mph within the first 30 minutes of a cold start.
 
Then after (or if you are still within) the 30 minutes, drive at various speeds from 25-45 with some full stops.
 
That's it.

Messages Page 2 of 2

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