It came on when i left for the beach today. But, its weird cause everything is fine. Idle, accel, oil, temp, and everything else is fine. Could it deal with my exhaust? Or a bad sensor? By the way, i made it to the beach, so i dont think it's major. But i'm still concerned.


Thanks.

 

Run the codes. Ignition from OFF to ON (not start) three times finally stopping at ON, code(s) in a P#### format should pop up on the odometer, 1 code at a time. Write them down. Theres a sticky at the top that has most of the codes, giving a brief description of what they mean.
If the OFF/ONx3 ignition test doesn't work, pretty much any autoparts store can scan the codes for free.

 

it could possibly be just an o2 sensor if everything else seems finei had my cel come on and nothing else seemed wrong except it used 2x as much gas so i took it in and it was a code that indicated a bad cat or o2 sensor but its weird it comes and goes so i dunno what it could be

 

it could be anything from a sensor out of range to a loose gas cap. write down the codes and research it. i've seen autozone kids sell an expensive 02 sensor for something completely unrelated to that...

 

The Key on/off code reader i THINK only works on 2000+ Models....

but MOST of the time a CEL light means Exhuast faults.

How many miles are on your truck?

 

Dump the code and see what the real issue is. easier to deal with the known. Early OBDII systems for the most part are unreliable as far as gauging serious issues. My '97 240sx threw codes all the time. After a while I reset the ECU and it cleared them up. get a code and we can go from there. FWIW my 240 dumped alot of fuel tank codes, ie, low fuel and i'd throw it into a corner on the track, fuel pump sucked air, CEL. fuel cap gasket was bad, CEL. I was poor and running on reserve, fuel pump sucked up trash in the tank, CEL. i could go on and on. get the codes. I miss my '71 Karman Ghia, no ECU, no codes, no worry.

 

The truck has 89600 on it.

 

Yea, I've seen a few TSB's for Dakota's throwing codes that aren't "for real," the only one I can remember off the top of my head is MAP sensor.
Also, sometimes they don't throw codes when needed (which is why some people may never get a O2 code, even if theirs is in-fact, bad).
But yea, post the code(s).

 

UPDATE!!! Cel went off today!