Help, Check Engine Light at 16K!!

[redstripe]

Ok Gang, Need some help or ideas.

I am off at a friends house 500 miles from home and at 16,200 miles the 'Check Engine" light comes on and its Sat night and I have to drive back tomrrow.

16,200 on Odometer, no racing, no stresses, no abuse. OD Off light in dash is also flashing. OD not pressed. turn key off, then restart, OD light in dash works fine, but check engine light is still on.

Oil fine, water fine, pressure and temp OK, all fluids ok, Gas ok, belts humming along, no clanks or bangs or groans or etc.

IS THERE A STANDARD 15K + miles "Check Engine" light ON and pay the dealer to shut it off?

I am stumped, and cannot get to a dealer or code reader before I have to drive home Sunday afternoon.

I am open to ideas, history, thoughts, etc. I hope everyone had a check engine light at 15K, or someone has had a check engine light with the green OD light flashing.

Oh yeah, I am currently in Louisiana, but it is not hotter here than Houston or Austin or Dallas.

Redstripe

[Rider90]

well if ya lived over in IL I'd say c'mon over and I'll scan it, but no there is no standard dealer check engine light at 15k - although that may be a good but annoying money-maker for them..hmmm..

[RoyLPita]

If you MM is still under the 3/36 warranty- take it in.

[Nathan]

I had two separate check engine light issues within my first 100 miles of ownership. The first one was because the dealer had gotten water in the coil wires when pressure washing the car (???). The second was the 02 sensor. If you don't have access to a dealership, take it to AutoZone (or the like) and get an ODBII reading done.

Have you been running a different brand or grade of gasoline? My Lincoln LS require 91, but I always ran 93. I ran 91 once and my check engine light was on during the entire tankfull. Woops!

[STLThunder]

From having had "check engine" light problems on other cars I've learned this from mechanics:

Check engine problems are usually something to do with emissions controls, etc. On my Ford Explorer it was the O2 sensor. On my Taurus it was a loose fitting fuel cap. I also had the problem when I used to top off the fuel tank. It caused fumes that made the check engine light come on.

Thanks and that's my $.02 worth.

[grampaws]

Check engine and O/d light suggest a transmission sensor fault..

checking codes best option..Dealer if under warranty...:D
Trans will shut of the O/D to protect trans from damage...
Ie faulty speed sensor readings...Vehicle should be safe to
drive but should be repaired ASAP..
A simple check for blown fuses could be a cause...

[fastblackmerc]

I had two separate check engine light issues within my first 100 miles of ownership. The first one was because the dealer had gotten water in the coil wires when pressure washing the car (???). The second was the 02 sensor. If you don't have access to a dealership, take it to AutoZone (or the like) and get an ODBII reading done.

Have you been running a different brand or grade of gasoline? My Lincoln LS require 91, but I always ran 93. I ran 91 once and my check engine light was on during the entire tankfull. Woops!
Take it in to any Autozone or Advance Auto. They will usually check the code and tell you what it is (no charge). Could be as simple as the gas cap is not on properly as someone has already stated.

[dlginnc]

Could this be the wiring harness chaffing problem at the cowl/left rear of engine?


http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10

[redstripe]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the good info. It's late Sunday and I am back at home. It ran smooth for the 600 miles back here, so I DO think it is/was gas or emissions....even so, I took it easy coming back.

It did this shortly after buying a full tank of gas at a Shell in Covington, LA....I would have thought shell 93 octane would be ok, but then again....this was Louisiana........

After restart, no more O/D flashing green light, and that seemed to be fixed, but I left it alone anyway.

Monday AM I will be off to AutoZone to get it read, and I'll let the board know what they say.

I got this low milage dream car at a stunning price a week ago, (after the vicissitudes of life took away the one I had ordered in January of '03), and it has no problems and has been a gem; but everyone can imagine that after a great deal, I have been waiting for the "other shoe to drop" as it were. So, that is why I am overly concerned about this matter.

More data on Monday pm.

Thanks again!

[MENINBLK]

Autozone will not scan for a CEL (Check Engine Light) unless it is lit when you arrive.

Also if the CEL is INTERMITTENT, it becomes a HISTORY code
after the 3rd time you start your Marauder.

You might want to check if anyone in your area has a scanner
that they can look up your codes with.

If the problem is the gas cap, there is a CHECK FUEL CAP light...

[wchain]

Where in Texas are you? I have a scan tool. Houston,TX

[ahess77]

Check engine and O/d light suggest a transmission sensor fault..

checking codes best option..Dealer if under warranty...:D
Trans will shut of the O/D to protect trans from damage...
Ie faulty speed sensor readings...Vehicle should be safe to
drive but should be repaired ASAP..
A simple check for blown fuses could be a cause...

The flashing OD light does usually indicate a transmission problem. Mine exhibited the same indicators your does, check engine light, flashing OD light, even the fact that after you shut it off it may or may not have the indicator lights come back on right away, but they will.

I had the torque converter lock-up solonoid go bad so the torque converter would not lock-up. When driving at higher speeds when the computer thinks the torque converter should be locked-up, but the tach says it isn't then the computer sets the indicator lights a blinkin.

My recommendation is get it to the dealer if you're under warranty, otherwise pick a good trans shop (Good, not necessarily cheap.) If it is that the torque converter isn't locking-up, the drawback would be high trans fluid temperatures, which mine showed, as well as reduced fuel mileage when cruising at highway speeds. If you drove several hours on the interstate (60+ mph), make sure the trans wasn't overheated.

Hope this helps.

[redstripe]

Ok, here is the skinny:

Went to AutoZone, had them read the check engine light: Code 0750, Shift Solenoid #1 problem. Then had to spend 30+ minutes showing the car to the 19 year old at AutoZone while he drooled :banana2: That was neat, sharing the car and what it had.

Took it to the local dealer (it's under warranty). They were very straightforward....yep, tranny shift solenoid....we gotta have it 3 days, drop the pan, replace it, poke around..

So I have an appointment for Friday to leave it. The good news (other than warranty) is that I was going to do a full transmission flush this weekend, so I saved that $100. I would have hated to do that and then have the dealer open it up!

Hey WCHAIN, I'll have to look you up, discuss some plans for parts for mods.

Ahess had a great point too, but I made sure it did not get overheated.

Thank everyone for all the ideas and help!