I hope someone who is more knowlegable than I on these newer cars can answer this question for me: I bought one of those cheepie code readers a while back for reading the eec-IV trouble codes. It fit our '86 Merc, it fit my daughter's '96 Taurus, and it fit our '92 Tempo. Today I tried using it on a '94 Tempo that we just got and the plug won't fit!:af: (and the dreaded "check engine" light comes on intermittently) Did Furd use a different engine management system on that car? You would think if it fit the '92 and the '95 it would fit the '94. I hate newer cars.:rant: :bglasses:
me too. Have been chasing a ghost in mine for a month.:af::rant: It is a '99 F-150 :rant::rant::rant:
did not the standards change on or about 1996 so that all manufactures would be using a standard eec diagnostic hookup ?
starting in '96 all domestics used OBDII, where is the connection on the tempo? is it on the driverside inner fender near the battery? if so it should be the old ford-1 or ford-1A . if your scanner worked on the older car, it should work on the '94. the most common problem i've seen on early 90's tempo/topaz is the DPFE (differential pressure feedback EGR) sensor or the hose going to it from the exhaust pipe near the firewall. Michael, what is the ghost you're chasing on your '99 f150?if it's a lean condition on both cylinder banks, follow the vac line from your pcv to the back of the motor (is it 5.4?) there is a 90 degree rubber hose connecting the hard lines that gets hot and melts. just a couple hints. it's hard to tell without actually seeing the car to diagnose, but these are a couple common problems i've encountered.
Thanks, Paul.:TU: The connector is in the driver's inner fender, it almost fit my tester but the prongs were spaced apart too far to fit the plug on my tester. Otherwise it looked to me exactly like an eec-4 test plug.............go figure? Anyway, I replaced the spark plugs and rotor and the light has not come on since. (yet:laugh: ) The plugs were really bad, though.:bglasses:
Paul, My scanner and the one at Autozone is saying that the IAC is stuck open (code 1518 ). So far I have replaced the IAC ($70.07), oxygen senser ($74.00), and ran several bottles of injector cleaner. Next maybe I will look at the mass airflow or MAP senser? The gas mileage has gotten better, but the "check engine light" is staying on. I can reset the computer and the light will stay out until I turn off the motor and restart it. If I unplug the IAC, with the motor running the valve closes so I know it is working (engine stumbles and almost dies). * This is with the air condition off and the truck in "park". * Question: If I get a computer from a donor truck and without having it reprogramed for my key (or do I). Will I need to change the lock assembly from a donor truck (take the lock assembley and key)? of is there something else that reads the key code?
Michael, i think you could just have a key made at the dealer to match the ECM if the computer is the problem. but i don't think that is the case. autozone said the problem is with the IAC being stuck open? i would look for vacuum leaks. the computer might think the IAC is open if there is a vac leak. does the engine idle higher than normal? i worked on a '99 Exploder this week that the DPFE sensor fried and burnt a hole in the plastic upper intake. causing a big vac leak. it took out the IAC also. i would look for the simplest things first
The engine only stumbled once when I was coming to a stop sign, but beside that everything is great. Will check for a vacuum leak tomorrow.
