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Check engine light when heat is on?? Any ideas? #1073218 10/08/04 11:46 PM
Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 9 Wilmington, NC L litljenarey OP Newbie
OP litljenarey Newbie L Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 9 Wilmington, NC	Sorry guys, I've searched and nothing has come up on this, I'm hoping someone has had a similar problem and can tell me where to start. Whenever I turn the heater on, the check engine light comes on. I can unplug the battery and reset the code, light turns off and I can drive for days then the next time the heater is turned on I get the light again. I finally took it to Advanced today and it came up with a PO420 code. The guy at Advanced told me it was an O2 sensor...that doesn't make sense, a O2 sensor isn't related to the heat. I just bought this car and I don't know much about them. Any help is very much appreciated. Thanks, Jenny 1996 Contour GL - Zetec

Re: Check engine light when heat is on?? Any ideas? #1073219 10/09/04 02:27 AM
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,725 Grand Rapids, Michigan - Chica... H HITMANinMI Hard-core CEG\'er
HITMANinMI Hard-core CEG\'er H Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,725 Grand Rapids, Michigan - Chica...	PO420 that has to do with the cat. failing most likely. Very common problem on V6s, how many miles do you have if under 80k it will be fixed at Ford for free.

Re: Check engine light when heat is on?? Any ideas? #1073220 10/09/04 02:00 PM
Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 9 Wilmington, NC L litljenarey OP Newbie
OP litljenarey Newbie L Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 9 Wilmington, NC	I searched, I know what the code is for. I know that it's cats for some people, O2 sensors for other people, and some people just erase the code and it never comes back....Why would it only happen when the heat is on?? Ford won't help me, I have 99K miles. I just bought the car last week, so I don't know much about them. Any suggestions on how to find out if that's really the problem? Last edited by litljenarey; 10/09/04 02:04 PM. 1996 Contour GL - Zetec

Re: Check engine light when heat is on?? Any ideas? #1073221 10/09/04 02:31 PM
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,725 Grand Rapids, Michigan - Chica... H HITMANinMI Hard-core CEG\'er
HITMANinMI Hard-core CEG\'er H Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,725 Grand Rapids, Michigan - Chica...	Originally posted by litljenarey: I searched, I know what the code is for. I know that it's cats for some people, O2 sensors for other people, and some people just erase the code and it never comes back....Why would it only happen when the heat is on?? Ford won't help me, I have 99K miles. I just bought the car last week, so I don't know much about them. Any suggestions on how to find out if that's really the problem? Wait I see you added to your signature you have a Zetec. Well then that just about eliminates the cat. therory, that mainly applies to V6s. I would honesty take it to a shop because PO420 can be caused by about 12 different things. They have a scan tool that will say what sensor or whatever the problem is that isnt working how it should. Anyways O2 sensor, MAF I've heard are the two I would start with if you want to toss parts at it. The MAF can be cleaned while the O2 sensor is about $80. hope that helps

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