2003 Ford Ranger CEL

[N80]

Check engine light came on in my daughter's 2003 Ford Ranger. I told her to take it to AutoZone so they could scan it and get the code. My wife went with her. (And yes, before anyone pipes up, all of this is my fault for sending those two and not going myself, and yes, I realize that one cannot expect much from a free service.) When they plugged it in, their device would not come on so they told her that "the fuse" was blown and therefore their machine could not get power from the vehicle to read the code. When my wife asked which fuse they said there was no way to know since their scanner could not work because the fuse was blown.

Any idea how to interpret this?

Is it possible that whoever engineered the 2003 Ford Ranger (this particular one is a piece of junk), made it so that the CEL would come on if the fuse to the OBD port (which is supposed to tell you why the CEL is on) is blown?

In any case, I looked in the fuse panel. Pulled all the 10 amp fuses and they were all fine.

I guess my options include taking it to the dealership for a scan......I believe they charge $50-80 but I may be mistaken......OR see if I can find a free factory service manual online and try to find out which fuse goes to the OBD port....ASSUMING the guy at AutoZone is correct.....OR, if the CEL is on because the OBD port fuse is blown that means there is no actual functional problem and she can just keep on driving it. For now it seams to be running just fine. :dance1:

 

[N80]

Never mind. Answered my own question. Found this to be a common question in the Ford Ranger forums. The OBD ll port and the cigarette lighter are on the same 20 amp fuse. I pulled it and it was blown.

I still don't like the logic of having a CEL come on to indicate that your on-board-diagnostic port isn't working.

 

[deepNdirt]

so do you have any idea what cause the fuse to blow in the first place?

 

[sld]

The CEL had nothing to do with the fuse blowing and disabling you diagnostic port. You may have a code stored for something else.

Also, just because the CEL comes on does not mean a code is stored.

 

[jinman]

so do you have any idea what cause the fuse to blow in the first place?

I drive a Pontiac Vibe and my friend also has one. They have a built in inverter and 110 volt AC outlet. My friend's wife plugged her curling iron into that plug. I would bet something similar on George's daughter's truck.

 

[Bird]

If a Ranger ever came with an inverter and 110 volt outlet, I never heard of it. I just looked at my owner's manual though, and my 2001 Ranger also has the same 20 amp fuse for the cigar lighter and "data link connector".

 

[N80]

My friend's wife plugged her curling iron into that plug. I would bet something similar on George's daughter's truck.

No, my daughter has naturally curly hair.:laughing:

sld wrote:

The CEL had nothing to do with the fuse blowing and disabling you diagnostic port. You may have a code stored for something else.

You are correct. With new fuse cigarette lighter now works and CEL still on. I'm going to buy a code scanner so I can do these things myself. It will also link with my track data acquisition software.

sld also wrote:

Also, just because the CEL comes on does not mean a code is stored.

What would the light indicate if there is no code?

 

[deepNdirt]

Look in the owners manual to see if the '03 ranger has a self posting diagnostic code.... would be a way to read the code without having to buy a OBD reader, It would be a series of likely check engine light blinking, if it does in fact have it? the owners manual should show how to activate it, But I'm not sure if the '03 has this feature

 

[Bird]

For my 2001 Ranger, I don't find anything about a self posting diagnostic code, but the manual says the vehicle is equipped with OBD II. So if the light comes on, it has detected a malfunction. It does go on to say there are some "temporary" malfunctions, such as out of fuel, poor quality or water in the fuel, fuel cap not properly installed. And you can correct those yourself and "after 3 driving cycles" the light should turn off. (A driving cycle consists of a cold engine startup followed by mixed city/highway driving.)" So in other words, if the check engine light comes on with no noticeable drivability concerns, you may correct the temporary cause, but it'll be awhile before the light goes off. It does go on to say that if the light is blinking engine misfire is occurring.

 

[N80]

Thanks guys. It is not blinking which is good. She is headed back to school today so as long as it is driving normally it is going to have to wait a few weeks until she gets back home.