My 01 Ranger gave me a "check engine light" a few weeks back. I didn't have access to an OBDII code reader at the time but nothing visual or audible was noticed. I filled it up with some fresh fuel and about a week later, just as quick as the check engine light appeared, it went away.

I just figured it was bad fuel or seeing as the tank was really low, it could have been debris or junk clogging an injector. I did have the "fuel cap" light on awhile back, and it turned out that my fuel cap wasn't on tight enough.

Well just this week the check engine light came on again. Same as last time, nothing was noticeably wrong. I picked up an OBDII code reader that was on sale at Canadian Tire today and read the code.

Turns out I have a P0442 or a "Evaporative Emission Control System Leak Detected (Small Leak)"

I have a Ford Technical Service Publication CD and I found their code charts. Much better then the code descriptions that come with the OBDII reader as the Ford ones are specific to MY vehicle.

So it turns out that it could be an issue with my fuel cap among other issues such as the canister solenoid, cuts or holes in the vent tubes, etc.

Well chances are, it's my fuel cap. It hasn't been clicking when I close it lately.

Anyway......the real point of this post is to just show others that diagnosing/troubleshooting/problem solving, whatever you want to call it, is very easy to do. Personal knowledge and experience is key to ones self being. I could have posted " I have an error code P0442...HELP". In turn filling up the site with yet another waste of space thread.

It's easy to obtain data off the net and even downloading free tools to assist you. OBDII code readers can be expensive, but just look around, you don't need anything fancy, it just needs to be able to read and clear codes.

Sorry for the long ramblings, just needed to share.

 

So much site bandwidth could be saved if people just used google or the search, so many questions can be answered that way.

 

I thought sites like these were here to help eachother. If everyone just googled all their problems instead of asking for advice and learning from others this site wouldn't be here. No bandwidth is 'wasted' if someone learns something new that may help them in the future, or that they can pass on to someone less knowlegable in the future.

 

You know Chris it is a good feeling to DIY. I hear so many people say that cars are so complicated these days it's impossible to work on them.

Well.. IMO it's the opposite. With the PCM and the tools to read/controll it you can fix/modify things much more quickly than on old school stuff.

There are always little bugs that can throw you for a loop. But with time spent on forums like R-F and the like, you get to know what the typical problems are and can usually get right to the heart of the matter.

My one HUGE GRIPE with the modern car are sensor quality. I must say that in the last 15 years on all the computer controlled cars I've had, sensor failure has been 90% of my "problems".

Rich

 

i actually have the same code for my truck.. you would figure that for a code reader or a diagnostic tool it would narrow it donw a little further. p0442. pssh. that could be a laundry list of things. has anyone had this code and actually found out wat was wrong?

 

Yeah I have that code right now as well, its being caused by this:

 

that doesn't look good.

 

Eh its been like that for 4 months with no problems, the check light comes on monthly and I clear it with the scangauge.

 

why dont you just put it back together???

 

Because the hoses are too short to go back together, I have to go to lowes and make a extension. I just don't care enough to do it

 

i cant tell from here but which hose is it?

 

That one