Truck just hit 90,000 km (56,000 miles) and has been running great. Check Engine dash light came on today. I know this is related to emissions, and that something as simple as a loose gas cap can trigger the light (gas cap is secure and tight).

I don't have a scanner, and am wondering what other basic items I can check. I have an appointment to take it to dealer in 2 days but if I can sort it out myself I'd rather do that. Is there anything fairly common to these trucks that tends to trigger the light around 56,000 miles?

I've been planning to get around to changing the spark plugs and they're significantly overdue so I suspect that may be the problem.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

The local autoparts store will read the code for free for you and tell you what it is.

 

All your doing or asking is total guess work. Its fun guessing but thats all it will get you. Gotta pull codes. Probably not spark plugs. Does it skip or run rough? No. Thens its not a misfire.

 

Thanks for comments. I'm north of Toronto...never had any local parts stores pull codes for me. Truck is running great...just towed my boat on the weekend and it was as smooth and powerful as ever. No hint of a miss or skip. Funny thing is, light came on this morning and then around mid-day it went off. I had checked the gas cap - removed it an put it back on - and the light stayed on but I know it sometimes takes a few start cycles to clear the engine light. Anyway, right now it's off. I was due for an air filter change so I popped a new one in but light was already off before I did that. If it comes on again, I'll see if PartsSource will read the code for me.

 

Interesting that the light shut off on its own. I assumed you had to "clear" the code with a scanner in order to remove it.

 

I'm not sure if all vehicles are the same, but I know with my BMW if the problem causing the engine light to come on is corrected, that the light will go out on it's own after a certain number of engine on-off cycles. I think the code is retained in memory though until cleared with a scanner and/or disconnecting negative lead from battery. Right now I think the gas cap may have been slightly loose and that after I tightened it and did a few engine on-off cycles the light went out. Guess we'll know if it comes back on--I'll get the code read then.

 

Soft codes if not recurring reset after so many key cycles. You can still see what te code was and it will also say how many key cycles it occurred. Things like loose gas cap and such. Hard codes won't.Like a dead coil.

 

I think it's 5 key cycles for code reset on that

 

I had low antifreeze topped it off, actually the reservoir was empty. Shut truck off and restarted light is out, not sure if that was it or not. It happened a couple months back on and off on next start.
Here's what I do know, on my 2012 identical truck the light will come on if you let the FUEL TANK FILTER get plugged from gravel road travel it will happen in the right conditions, mine plugged after a meer 6856 kms. I took it out and flushed it with water then air and cleaned it out good and dry. Then I took 5/8 soft clear vinyl hose and rerouted the filter up by the radiator so it could no longer vent in the dustiest area of any vehicle, that was it simple as that I have now 45K on the truck same filter and have had zero issues, just an FYI for you that travel gravel, either reroute its vent or change it regularly your choice but you will suffer from it. One more point if it gets plugged enough even though your light is not on you WILL NOT be able to fill it with gas very quickly that is also a sign.
Travel safe. Lc

 

Fuel tank filter? Plugged with gravel? I'm lost. Explain.