2021 Ford F-150: Check Engine Light Reset
Ford has made it easy to reset the check engine light on a 2021 F-150. Just make sure you don’t ignore any major mechanical issues while you’re doing it.
There are official Ford-prescribed methods and solutions that will help you when the light is difficult.
So how do you reset the Ford F-150 check engine light?
The easiest way to do this is to drive after repairing your truck and see if that helps. The safest way to do this is to disconnect the battery and honk the car horn.
Below, we’ll address this and cover exactly what the check engine light detects. Whether you’re having trouble turning off that light or just curious about how it works, read on, and we’ll tell you what you need to know.
How the Check Engine Light Works
Many drivers consider the check engine light to be a general indicator that “something is wrong.” In truth, it is specifically there to tell you when the oxygen levels are off in the exhaust of your vehicle. Think of it like a doctor smelling his breath.
The actual mechanics of the sensor are tied to an oxygen-sensitive crystal inside the device. When there is more oxygen on one side of the crystal than the other, the crystal produces a very small voltage.
From there, the vehicle’s computer can adjust the amount of oxygen it pumps through the engine. If the sensor goes off too many times in a row, your computer knows something is wrong and turns on your check engine light.
How to Reset the Check Engine Light on Your F-150
After repairing the engine, the light will likely still be on. This is because the sensor is not detecting anything, so the computer must assume that you haven’t fixed the problem yet.
The easiest way to solve this problem is to simply drive around a bit. Once exhaust starts blowing through the tailpipe, your sensor will be able to detect that it has fixed the problem. Usually, this will work.
If that’s not enough, you’ll probably need to do a manual reset. You can do this by removing fuses and putting them back, but the easiest way may be with the battery. Here’s how to do it safely.
- Make sure the car is off
- If you drive a newer F-150, you may need to disable the anti-theft system first
- Remove the negative cable and store it in a safe place.
- Remove the positive cable and store it in a safe place. Still, this order
- Start the car and honk the horn for a minute to drain any lingering energy.
- Reconnect the positive wire
- Reconnect the negative cable
Just to note: when disconnecting a battery, first negative, then positive. When reconnecting a battery, first the positive and then the negative.
This method works, but it will reset the entire computer system. That means you’ll need to reconnect your phone via Bluetooth, you’ll need to re-enter all your audio settings, etc.
But if driving doesn’t work, this will.
Drive smart and safe
The more you know about your vehicle, the safer you will be on the road. No matter what you’re driving or how long you’ve been driving it, it’s always worth knowing a little about your ride. that’s where Vehicle history it is very convenient
