Fred V.

Hi

Lately my check engine light has been coming on for short periods. It comes
on, then goes away, then comes on again. Otherwise the car runs fine. What
could it be?
I suppose I should see if any codes are being reported.

Fred
89 LX 5.0

Kruse

Fred V. wrote:
> Lately my check engine light has been coming on for short periods. It comes
> on, then goes away, then comes on again. Otherwise the car runs fine. What
> could it be?
> I suppose I should see if any codes are being reported.
> Fred
> 89 LX 5.0

There are some cheapo code readers for the OBDI (pre '96) cars. You
might buy one and check your codes. OR, go to AutoZone and they will
read it for free. Of course they would like to sell you the part that
their code reader says it will need, I'm GUESSTIMATING an oxygen
sensor. That, or a hundred other parts......

CBeech

I have a '91 5.0L and mine does this a lot. After reading the codes, it
gave me a bad oxygen sensor. After a while these cars start to burn
oil, which in turn starts to clog the O2 sensor. It's not a whole lot
to worry about as long as you keep an eye on the oil level. It will
however continue to get worse. I have heard instances of these cars
going through a quart of oil every 500 miles. I don't know the long
term solution for this as mine hasn't gotten that bad yet.

CBeech

Backyard Mechanic

"Kruse" <kruse@kansas.net> wrote:

>
> Fred V. wrote:
>> Lately my check engine light has been coming on for short periods. It
>> comes on, then goes away, then comes on again. Otherwise the car runs
>> fine. What could it be?
>> I suppose I should see if any codes are being reported.
>> Fred
>> 89 LX 5.0
>
> There are some cheapo code readers for the OBDI (pre '96) cars. You
> might buy one and check your codes. OR, go to AutoZone and they will
> read it for free. Of course they would like to sell you the part that
> their code reader says it will need, I'm GUESSTIMATING an oxygen
> sensor. That, or a hundred other parts......
>

Get the the codes read, then bring them back here. or to alt.autos.ford

The actual codes... not what the counter-guy says they mean

--
Yeh, I'm a Krusty old Geezer, putting up with my 'smartass' is the price
you pay..DEAL with it!

Backyard Mechanic

"CBeech" <CBeech23@gmail.com> wrote:

> I have a '91 5.0L and mine does this a lot. After reading the codes, it
> gave me a bad oxygen sensor. After a while these cars start to burn
> oil, which in turn starts to clog the O2 sensor. It's not a whole lot
> to worry about as long as you keep an eye on the oil level. It will
> however continue to get worse. I have heard instances of these cars
> going through a quart of oil every 500 miles. I don't know the long
> term solution for this as mine hasn't gotten that bad yet.
>

What do you mean gave you a "bad O2 sensor"?

Only the codes related to sensor heater, or slow switching times relate
to a bad sensor. And on a 91, that could well be the the case, if it's
burning oil for, say, the last 50,000.
New sensors will clear that up for many more thousands of miles. And
should improve economy and power some.

If they referred to Rich/Lean, however, that does not point to sensor....
and that is exactly why the guy should bring the codes, themselves.



--
Yeh, I'm a Krusty old Geezer, putting up with my 'smartass' is the price
you pay..DEAL with it!

Eric G

if going through a quart every 500 miles, think REBUILD.....

--
ERIC GIRONDA

+



"CBeech" <CBeech23@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1134201555.692412.185130@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
I have a '91 5.0L and mine does this a lot. After reading the codes, it
gave me a bad oxygen sensor. After a while these cars start to burn
oil, which in turn starts to clog the O2 sensor. It's not a whole lot
to worry about as long as you keep an eye on the oil level. It will
however continue to get worse. I have heard instances of these cars
going through a quart of oil every 500 miles. I don't know the long
term solution for this as mine hasn't gotten that bad yet.

CBeech

Fred V.

Hi again

Ok I ran the codes and here is my report:

KOEO test: 11 (no problems)
KOER test: 12 (but it did not flash the sequence
twice, only once. I repeated the KOER test and got the
same result: 12 once.)

Fred
89LX 5.0

"Fred V." <fredvp@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:%bomf.360$iv.148@newssvr17.news.prodigy.com...
> Hi
>
> Lately my check engine light has been coming on for short periods. It
> comes on, then goes away, then comes on again. Otherwise the car runs
> fine. What could it be?
> I suppose I should see if any codes are being reported.
>
> Fred
> 89 LX 5.0
>
>

dwight

"Eric G" <egironda@atcomcast.net> wrote in message
news:CradnZPOpIFiDQbenZ2dnUVZ_tudnZ2d@comcast.com...
> if going through a quart every 500 miles, think REBUILD.....
>
> --
> ERIC GIRONDA

Nah. "Personality."

(or rear main seal...)

As a matter of fact, TFrog used to need a quart every 1,000 miles or so.
Since the recent replacement of the rear main seal, it hasn't needed any
"refresh" between oil changes.

dwight

> "CBeech" <CBeech23@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1134201555.692412.185130@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> I have a '91 5.0L and mine does this a lot. After reading the codes, it
> gave me a bad oxygen sensor. After a while these cars start to burn
> oil, which in turn starts to clog the O2 sensor. It's not a whole lot
> to worry about as long as you keep an eye on the oil level. It will
> however continue to get worse. I have heard instances of these cars
> going through a quart of oil every 500 miles. I don't know the long
> term solution for this as mine hasn't gotten that bad yet.
>
> CBeech
>

Fred V.

Hi group

Found the problem. I took off the hose from the air
cleaner to the throttle body and found
the throttle plate very dirty. After a thorough cleaning the idle went way
up. This was probably from me fooling with the base idle screw over the
years. Then I cleaned the idle air bypass valve (also very dirty but not
stuck). Finally I reset the base idle and TPS voltage. Now the motor purrs
like a kitten!.

Fred
"Fred V." <fredvp@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:%bomf.360$iv.148@newssvr17.news.prodigy.com...
> Hi
>
> Lately my check engine light has been coming on for short periods. It
> comes on, then goes away, then comes on again. Otherwise the car runs
> fine. What could it be?
> I suppose I should see if any codes are being reported.
>
> Fred
> 89 LX 5.0
>
>