Possibly, maybe someome removed the light like on mine. The check engine light is a small bulb with a socket that twists into a plastic socket with a printed circuit ribbon in between. Its on the lower left side of the dash. I was told that the check engine light is standard on all Cougars that year, so if youre really curious, remove the left dash cover and see if the sockets and printed ribbon is there.
The codes were obtained using the paperclip method and counting the blinks from the check engine light while the engine was running. I was sure to bring the engine up to normal temperature before I shut it off, connected the paperclip, and restarted to count the blinks. Does it make a difference which method I use? Would I get different codes? Thanks for the diagnosis and pictures. Hopefully it sounds like all I need is a new ACT sensor and some vacuum lines to the solenoids.
I ran the codes and this is what I got. 24 intake/vane air temperwture sensor out of range. 94 air system inoperative transmission TCC circuit/solenoid problem. 44 air system inoperative. 31 EVP out of range.
The only one I really understand is 24, the rest are pretty vauge and potentially exspensive sounding.
By the way, I'm not related to anyone who works at a gas station because I'm not an Indian (dot, or feather), or a terrorist (Islamic variety). I'm not related to anyone who is an ATC either but I think its more important not to be related to a gas station employee, even if it is a nice one like shell.
So I decided to just say shag it with the engine code bullshiznit. Why spend time and money fixing problems when I can just use my superior electrical knowledge to bypass this pesky check engine light?
This is what I did. Picked up a 12VDC agastat (electronic timer) from Frys Electronics that's adjustable from 0.5-5 seconds. I then wired the ignition hot to the input of the agastat and the output of the agastat to the check engine light. Then adjusted the agastat to the required 3 seconds. When the car turns on the agastat lets the bulb light up for 3 seconds then shuts off until the ignition hot goes low, then hot again. The whole thing costs me around $10 for all the supplies, and with the agastat hidden under dash panels the emission technician is none the wiser.
So I went to the junkyard and got myself a new socket and bulb for the check engine light. Now the light comes on for 3 seconds and then blinks for about a minute before shutting off. Does this mean check the engine or is this normal? Ive only had the car for a few weeks and ive never seen how it is supposed to be.
I know youd use a timing light to advance it mechanically, but Im asking if there is a special procedure for doing it on the V6 Cougar. Do I just rotate the distributor cap and call it a day or is there something more involved?
I thought about grabbing a socket from somewhere else, but its a special twist in socket that connects to a flexible print circuit the folds around from behind the instrument cluster. There is plastic behind it that the socket uses for leverage to make contact with the printed circuit tape. There are 2 other sockets tothe left of the check engine light, but there are no lenses for the bulbs positions and no spare sockets to use. Im making a trip to the Ford dealer tomorrow to procure one or two along with some spare bulbs. Ill try resetting the check engine with the battery, but Im doubtful because i just replaced the battery and have disconnected it a few times before that to charge the bad one overnight. I just hope the socket fixes my problem.
As far as living in CA even though theyre buttstuff about dash bulbs, its worth it. Yes it costs more to live here, but you make more, there are more opportunities. Also the women are hotter, the weather is perfect and if you want to drive 2 hours you can be in the mountains (with snow), the desert, the forest, or a foreign country (Mexico).
My current timing is at 0 degrees and needs to be at 10 for CA emissions. How do I advance it? Do I do it mechanically or with the vacuum advance? Whats the difference?
Thanks for the help. I found where it was supposed to be. The problem now is finding a new socket and installing it since someone took it out before me. I have a feeling that the light is going to be on all the time because of some stupid computer code. Whats the protocol for clearing the check engine light?
I live in California with retarded emission standards. I have a V6 cougar that passes the emission side of the emission test but it wont pass completely until the guy sees the check engine light come on for 3 seconds when you turn the car on. The guy says to just replace the bulb, but I cant find it. I pulled off the dash and got into the instrument panel and still dont see where the light is supposed to be or how to get to it. The section on here about the instrument panel was imformative, but it doesnt say where the lights are supposed to be or how to get into it. I have the "base" dash that has the digital speedo, but is not the full electronic dash. Any help would be appreciated.
