Check Engine Light...Won't Come On?

ACDiecast

ACDiecast

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Hello everyone, it's been a while since I've had time to get on. I have a 2003 Sport V8 with about 68K.

Everything seems to be running normally and well, when I first purchased the car with 61K miles I replaced all 8 coils/plugs with Motorcraft and immediately stopped a mild misfire that was happening.

In the past 4 months, I have gotten about a half dozen warning tones that I would usually associate with a DTC or low fuel level. When I look down at the dash, however, there is no hint of any CEL or description displayed on the message center, and my fuel level was always above half tank. Once, the last time it happened (around a month ago) I happened to be looking at the instrument cluster. I heard the tone, saw a description on the message center for less than one second, but I don't think the CEL ever illuminated.

Upon checking the PCM with my code reader, I found that the code was a P0153 (O2 Sensor Circuit Slow Response) and had freeze frame data, including a MIL status line that read "MIL Status: NOCONV." This code doesn't worry me as much as the CEL not lighting up, as it sounds like a semi-contaminated sensor.

Also, I have noticed that since I've owned the car, the CEL does not light with the system check upon turning the key to the ignition position.

So...what do you guys (and gals) think? Has anyone else had this issue?

Thanks in advance,

-Dan
 
1. Things that are reported on the message center are not related to the PCM and do not generally trigger a CEL. There are exceptions, such as ETC failsafe. Whatever the message center was trying to tell you, it was not at all related to the P0153 that you have. Most of us have experienced the mystery beeps, and I have seen stuff flash up on the message center and then go away long before I could read it. The last time around, it was due to a loose bulb. Eventually, it failed for long enough for me to read it, and then resolve it. I've also seen the brief flashes for momentary problems with one of the fuel level senders.

2. I would expect that either your check engine bulb has been removed (by previous seller for obvious reasons), or it has burned out. It is a serviceable (meant to be replaceable) bulb.
 
joegr said:
2. I would expect that either your check engine bulb has been removed (by previous seller for obvious reasons), or it has burned out. It is a serviceable (meant to be replaceable) bulb.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Joe. I assume the previous owner may have disconnected or removed it, especially after seeing the cheap replacement coils under the hood when I replaced them. Any suggested instruction threads for replacing the bulb? Every search I've tried is plagued with misfire stuff.
 
AC, though Joe is probably correct in saying the bulb is simply burnt out/removed, how is your battery?

I ask because these cars are SO terribly sensitive to any sort of battery thats not 100% charged. I recently picked up an 03, but mine has nearly 200k. I had the same issue, but alot more. My CEL was not coming on, even though I knew there were codes, both blinker indicators didn't light up in the cluster, airbag light would flash and/or stay on sometimes. Even being hooked to my charger/maintainer, all that stuff was going on. Eventually (before driving it still, doing repairs) my left blinker indicator started working, and then my CEL finally woke up.

I started driving it last week, and everything is now working flawlessly. (Both blinker indicators, no airbag light randomly coming on, etc)
 
Thanks for the thought Brian, but I put a Motorcraft BXT-66-750 in the trunk after the original lost a cell. I haven't had any issues since.
 
I don't have an LS any longer but doesn't the CEL illuminate when you first turn the key to the ON position?
 
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