Check Engine Soon light? 2003 F-150

[CDMBill]

The check engine soon light came on a week ago on my 2003 Harley F-150 (Simliar to Lightning). it has only 26,000 miles on it and I have done all the maintenance including more frequent oil changes etc. No other maintenance items have been required or recomended by the book to this mileage.

All fluids are good and it runs perfectly. I'd rather not pay a dealer check a code if I don't have to, is there another choice or do I just have to pay up? The truck is completly stock.

[min301]

The check engine soon light came on a week ago on my 2003 Harley F-150 (Simliar to Lightning). it has only 26,000 miles on it and I have done all the maintenance including more frequent oil changes etc. No other maintenance items have been required or recomended by the book to this mileage.

All fluids are good and it runs perfectly. I'd rather not pay a dealer check a code if I don't have to, is there another choice or do I just have to pay up? The truck is completly stock.

Much as I despise them, Autozone has code readers,
and will happily pull the code, and find the meaning of the code for you for free.

Then post what it is(the code), and one of us will
give you a direction in which to go.

EVAP codes are common, and if that is the case,
have them clear it, and see if it comes back.

[TheSilverBuick]

The check engine soon light came on a week ago on my 2003 Harley F-150 (Simliar to Lightning). it has only 26,000 miles on it and I have done all the maintenance including more frequent oil changes etc. No other maintenance items have been required or recomended by the book to this mileage.

All fluids are good and it runs perfectly. I'd rather not pay a dealer check a code if I don't have to, is there another choice or do I just have to pay up? The truck is completly stock.

Much as I despise them, Autozone has code readers,
and will happily pull the code, and find the meaning of the code for you for free.

Then post what it is(the code), and one of us will
give you a direction in which to go.

EVAP codes are common, and if that is the case,
have them clear it, and see if it comes back.

*edit* Screw it, I'm going to make this a little more entertaining and confusing

Sorry Bill you are mistaken about Autozone. Not your fault though, in CA they were sued and not only no longer will check it for you, last I heard they had to stop loaning the code reader out too. Seems some group of shops sued on the grounds AZ is not a state certified repair shop and not qualified for diagnostics and not legally allowed to check codes.Bill, just pony up the $100-$150 for an OBDII code reader, it'll be worth it in the long run. I prefer the two line one that tells you the code and it's meaning.

Remember that the code is only a guide, not necessarily the problem. I agree with Bill, likely an evap code, tighten the gas cap and drive for another 20 minutes.


(Damn, two Bill's meet, can't get personal, too confusing :P)

[min301]

The check engine soon light came on a week ago on my 2003 Harley F-150 (Simliar to Lightning). it has only 26,000 miles on it and I have done all the maintenance including more frequent oil changes etc. No other maintenance items have been required or recomended by the book to this mileage.

All fluids are good and it runs perfectly. I'd rather not pay a dealer check a code if I don't have to, is there another choice or do I just have to pay up? The truck is completly stock.

Much as I despise them, Autozone has code readers,
and will happily pull the code, and find the meaning of the code for you for free.

Then post what it is(the code), and one of us will
give you a direction in which to go.

EVAP codes are common, and if that is the case,
have them clear it, and see if it comes back.

Sorry Min301 you are mistaken about Autozone. Not your fault though, in CA they were sued and not only no longer will check it for you, last I heard they had to stop loaning the code reader out too. Seems some group of shops sued on the grounds AZ is not a state certified repair shop and not qualified for diagnostics and not legally allowed to check codes. CDMBill, just pony up the $100-$150 for an OBDII code reader, it'll be worth it in the long run. I prefer the two line one that tells you the code and it's meaning.

Remember that the code is only a guide, not necessarily the problem. I agree with Min301, likely an evap code, tighten the gas cap and drive for another 20 minutes.


(Damn, two Bill's meet, can't get personal, too confusing :P)

Well much as I don't like it, they still do it here.
I've complained to Mi. BAR, but they continue...

[TheSilverBuick]

Well much as I don't like it, they still do it here.
I've complained to Mi. BAR, but they continue...

They stopped scanning for customers while I still worked there over five years ago, and I had heard it was a year or so later the scanner was no longer part of there loaner tool program.


To me it was a double edge sword. Too many idiots working at AZ selling people the wrong parts based on a code, but at the same time it was a nice service to offer the public. Now with the ODBII system out for well over a decade, to me purchasing a code reader is a no brainer decision for anyone that regularly has a car or two newer than 1996. To diagnostic trips to any shop pretty much would pay for the code reader.

[dieselgeek]

Well much as I don't like it, they still do it here.
I've complained to Mi. BAR, but they continue...

They stopped scanning for customers while I still worked there over five years ago, and I had heard it was a year or so later the scanner was no longer part of there loaner tool program.


To me it was a double edge sword. Too many idiots working at AZ selling people the wrong parts based on a code, but at the same time it was a nice service to offer the public. Now with the ODBII system out for well over a decade, to me purchasing a code reader is a no brainer decision for anyone that regularly has a car or two newer than 1996. To diagnostic trips to any shop pretty much would pay for the code reader.

They still scan them for free here, whether or not you buy the parts, but they won't "clear" the codes.

Bill, I suggest an Actron CP9180 "scanner" (not just a code reader). It rules. It'll be something simple/stupid for sure, otherwise the truck would run bad.

[CDMBill]

Thanks for a;ll the suggestions. The truck is OBD1, the last year for that in F-150's as most fo the new fancy schamancy stuff is onlyu for 2004 and newer OBD2 stuff. This by the way is the extent of my knowledge on this topic learned form fruitless attempts to buy some new pice of electronic tuning ye candy only find out my truck isn't covered. There are lots of pices out their for the F-150 Lghtning/Harley trucks but they in the one vehicvle one tune variety.

I'll look into the Actron, and as it happnes i have an up grded pully, K&n setup sitting on the sheld that I bought several years ago and never got around to installing so I'd like a device that does both.

[TheSilverBuick]

Impossible Bill, OBDII was mandated by the government for 1996, a few 1995 vehicles had it. It HAS to be an OBDII system.

[dieselgeek]

Definitely will be OBD2...

MAybe check with the Lightning guys and see which scanners they prefer...

[CDMBill]

I'll double check but the tools I've looked into allstart with 2004. Was the OBD2 start date the same for light trucks and cars?

Good idea on the Lightning/Harley forum. Once again a noob.