ryant35

My wife was driving our 99 Taurus 3.0 OHV last weekend when the engine light came on and the car started to run rough. The idle is really rough and it feels like it will stall. She also thinks she smells burning rubber and thinks it's the belt, but I can't imagine that anything wrong with the belt could cause a rough idle.

It runs the same as when we leave it for a few days without starting except it doesn't go away after a few minutes.

Is there a way to read the engine light codes without a scanner? I know on my 00 Maxima there is an LED on the cpu that flashes and tells you the code.

Other than going to a shop and paying for them to use the scanner, I'll start with a tune up, plugs & fuel filter.

We've had it for a year and I haven't done anything towards a tune up, but I did replace the thermostat, waterpump, & radator cap a few months ago.

Thanks for your help.

rtg143

Take it to an Autozone. They check the codes for free.

ryant35

Awesome! Thanks! Atleast I'll have somewhere to start with.

eckstei4

check your vaccum hoses, partic the one running from the pcv to the TB

ryant35

FYI at least in the state of California, parts stores are no longer allowed to pull engine codes with a scanner. They do offer one for purchase for $59.99.

Pep Boys service center did pull the code for free. They do charge for diagnostic, but if you have the manual with the codes, it's easy enough.

So the codes where:

Misfire detected on cylinder #5
Fuel too lean

So I'm going to check #5 and inspect the plug & wire. I'll just replace all the plugs anyway. And for the first step with running lean my diagnosis would be dirt fuel injector, and maybe this is why the plug may have been fouled? So I'll run a fuel injector cleaner through and see what happens.

rtg143

Check the ohms in the wire, They should be around 5k ohm. per ft. Keep us posted.