YACT: I went off a curb, now the check engine light is on...

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So

So

Lifer
Jul 2, 2001
25,923
17
81
Okay guys, my first YACT. Since it's Friday night, everyone's closed, so ATOT it is.

As I said in the title, I went off a dirt road which ended (for some unknown reason in a curb before hitting pavement. As I went over, I got a nice thunk on the curb, and now my check engine light is on. It's on solidly, which (according to the manual) indicates that it's not an emergency. It's not leaking fluid or making any alarming sounds, there is no overheating or anything of the sort...

Thoughts AT?

Edit: Just got back, realized I never mentioned - it's a 2k1 Ford Ranger

And yeah, Looking under the car w/ a light right before the sun went down, and it looks like there's some minor scrapeage to what I am reasonably sure it the exhaust system, directly under the cab -- including a small ball like thing.

Update: Pics!

from left
from right
 
MikeyIs4Dcats

MikeyIs4Dcats

Lifer
Nov 5, 2001
18,366
3
0
probably did something to your oil pan which may have damaged your filter.

by the way, that wasn't a dirt road, it was a little league field.
 
SmoochyTX

SmoochyTX

Lifer
Apr 19, 2003
13,615
0
0
Take it to Auto Zone or the like and have them hook it up to find out what the code says.
 
D

d33pt

Diamond Member
Jan 12, 2001
5,654
1
81
that's a weak car...most likely some sensor in the emissions got loose.
 
I

iamaelephant

Diamond Member
Jul 25, 2004
3,816
1
81
Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
probably did something to your oil pan which may have damaged your filter.
Click to expand...

No. Another vote for the O2 sensor here. If it was any sort of oil-pan/filter related problem the computer would mark it as "emergency" and the light would blink.
 
So

So

Lifer
Jul 2, 2001
25,923
17
81
Just got back, realized I never mentioned - it's a 2k1 Ford Ranger

And yeah, Looking under the car w/ a light right before the sun went down, and it looks like there's some minor scrapeage to what I am reasonably sure it the exhaust system, directly under the cab -- including a small ball like thing.
 
So

So

Lifer
Jul 2, 2001
25,923
17
81
Sun's down now...I should have brought my camera, but I guess I can't do much tonight anyway. I'll try to remember to take pics tomorrow.
 
BoomerD

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
65,460
13,804
146
FYI, the "Check Engine" light is only an emissions control" function, so most likely, as others have mentioned, you damaged an O2 sensor, or dislodged a wire. COULD have damaged the catalytic converter, but I'd expect it to take a couple of days for any damage there to trigger the CE light, UNLESS you really borked it up...COULD have damaged the exhaust system upstream from an O2 sensor, which could cause it to get faulty readings, and that would trigger the CE light as well...
Take it to AutoZone. IIRC, either they will come out and read the code for you, or you can "rent" a code reader (you get your rent back when you return the tool) and read the code yourself. They can tell you what it means...
 
P

Pepsi90919

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,162
1
81
Originally posted by: iamaelephant
Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
probably did something to your oil pan which may have damaged your filter.
Click to expand...

No. Another vote for the O2 sensor here. If it was any sort of oil-pan/filter related problem the computer would mark it as "emergency" and the light would blink.
Click to expand...

blinking MIL usually means misfire.
 
feralkid

feralkid

Lifer
Jan 28, 2002
16,791
4,885
136
Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
probably did something to your oil pan which may have damaged your filter.



You don't know anything about engines, do you?

;)
Click to expand...
 
MikeyIs4Dcats

MikeyIs4Dcats

Lifer
Nov 5, 2001
18,366
3
0
Originally posted by: feralkid
Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
probably did something to your oil pan which may have damaged your filter.



You don't know anything about engines, do you?

;)
Click to expand...

you are aware that some cars in internal filters in the pan, and damaging the pan could cause all sorts of problems.
Click to expand...
 
db

db

Lifer
Dec 6, 1999
10,575
292
126
Your vehicle might have some kind of inertia sensor to do with deployment of your airbag/s or there may be an issue with the traction control or anti-skid control/sensor. Probably can only be read/cleared with the appropriate scan tool, which may only be available at the dealer.
 
J

Jahee

Platinum Member
Sep 21, 2006
2,072
0
0
Yea i'm pretty sure thats ur catalytic converter... You probably broke it..
 
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