Check engine light on 2000 Crown Vic - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

Tim_07 · 07-28-2007, 11:57

I just recently bought a P71 ex police interceptor year 2000 had about 88k miles on it when i got it. Everything checked out fine the engine and trans. Anyway drove it for about a month now and everything runs well. on the way to work earlier I hit the 90,000 mile mark 3 miles after The check light popped on at 90,003. When i got home I check the power steering fluid the tranny fluid the oil the radiator fluid pretty much everything to make sure its in order. Everything seems fine and the car still runs just as good as it did before.

Iam wondering if the light turned on because its at 90k and needs to be taken in for checkup for them to turn it off. Or if it was somthing bigger. I havent gotten to changing the plugs and coils yet due to time restraint but i will get it done either today or tommorow. If anyone knows anything any help is appriciated.

**tbird100636** · 07-28-2007, 12:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim_07

I just recently bought a P71 ex police interceptor year 2000 had about 88k miles on it when i got it. Everything checked out fine the engine and trans. Anyway drove it for about a month now and everything runs well. on the way to work earlier I hit the 90,000 mile mark 3 miles after The check light popped on at 90,003. When I got home I check the power steering fluid the tranny fluid the oil the radiator fluid pretty much everything to make sure its in order. Everything seems fine and the car still runs just as good as it did before.

I am wondering if the light turned on because its at 90k and needs to be taken in for checkup for them to turn it off. Or if it was somthing bigger. I havent gotten to changing the plugs and coils yet due to time restraint but i will get it done either today or tommorow. If anyone knows anything any help is appriciated.

Go get it scanned. Means something is wrong. Autozone will do it for you. Post the codes here and we'll try to give a good direction to go in.

wythors · 07-28-2007, 15:47

Whatever you do, don't start throwing parts at it. It will do nothing for the CEL issue. As previously stated, get it scanned or buy a scanner and do it yourself. I finally bought one a few months back and now I don't know why I waited so long. Post up the codes given and one of us will translate it for you.

And no, the CEL doesn't come on at a particular mileage point.

Tim_07 · 07-28-2007, 20:09

Got it checked at autozone its the catalytic converter. The guy says it is clogged. Dont know much about these and how to go about getting them done on this crown vic since its dual exhaust. I take it there is 2 of them under there since its dual. Do i need to replace both or find out which one is clogged. And what a good spot is to order them at for a good price. since one seems to run about 170$ i really dont have 400$ to throw on both of them. Any suggestions are appriciated.

**tbird100636** · 07-29-2007, 15:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim_07

Got it checked at autozone its the catalytic converter. The guy says it is clogged. Dont know much about these and how to go about getting them done on this crown vic since its dual exhaust. I take it there is 2 of them under there since its dual. Do i need to replace both or find out which one is clogged. And what a good spot is to order them at for a good price. since one seems to run about 170$ i really dont have 400$ to throw on both of them. Any suggestions are appriciated.

You didn't say the car had power loss or drop in fuel economy- usually indicating a clogged cat. Was the code or codes Catalytic Converter efficiency??? (P0420, P0430) These codes normally indicate the cats. are not effectively converting the HC, CO to CO2 and water vapor. This is done by monitoring whats coming out of the cats. with the Downstream O2 sensors. Downstream O2 sensors being out of whack can set these codes. While observing the upstream and downstream O2 sensor voltages and states on the scan tool, the upstream should constantly be switching from Rich to Lean while the engine is at idle. The downstream should stay fairly steady and hardly ever switch. If the downstream is constantly switching like the upstream then replace the downstream O2 sensor that is switching too much. If it no longer switches constantly then you should be set. If it still switches constantly then you do have a bad cat. To be safe, do both downstream O2 sensors at the same time. If you do one now, you'll more than likely be doin' the other pretty soon. I think the cats. are fully welded together (L. & R.) on these cars.

dryelf327 · 07-31-2007, 15:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim_07

Got it checked at autozone its the catalytic converter. The guy says it is clogged. Dont know much about these and how to go about getting them done on this crown vic since its dual exhaust. I take it there is 2 of them under there since its dual. Do i need to replace both or find out which one is clogged. And what a good spot is to order them at for a good price. since one seems to run about 170$ i really dont have 400$ to throw on both of them. Any suggestions are appriciated.

There are 4 total. 2 per bank. The code that you had read should have specified which bank though so it's not a guessing game.