Check Engine Light?

Read this guide to get the codes

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

This video will help you clear the codes

https://youtu.be/ahK_eucFi-k

Please let us know what happens. Please run down this guide and report back.

The light is on right now. The only thing I see wrong at the moment is that there is a hesitation, whether it's in gear or not, when I hit the footfeed. I get a delay when I hit the gas to take off from a stop or when I hit the gas to pass someone. I don't know anything about the maintenance on this truck other than what little I've done to it since I've had it. Not sure whether it may be bad tune up parts or O2 sensor. A vacuum leak perhaps. Since the computer controls spark advance rather than having a distributor, I can't adjust that which would leave me thinking O2 sensor, except that I don't smell the extra fuel in the exhaust that would be the computer's answer to the problem. The only downside to trying to trace down a vacuum leak if that's the problem is automaker's insistence in so many vacuum lines. I'll try getting the coeds run and see what they say. Would be nice in a way if the truck were a bit newer electronically. The newer computer systems in vehicles will tell you specifically what part is faulty rather than saying that the problem is in a certain circuit. Takes the guess work out of it that way rather than taking it to a shop and replacing several parts before getting the right one rather than going directly to the right one first.
Anyway, hope this helps someone figure things out.

Check engine light has been on for a year and a half or more. A couple months ago the truck began starting rough in the morning. (Backfiring, smoking unless I give it gas). I put in new spark plugs and wires and it started nicely and check engine light was off. One day later check engine came back on and three days later and it had rough morning start. Could this be under tightened spark plugs?

Thank you for your answer. Like you say, I am going to wait until it is cold and check the torque first.

Would you happen to have any other ideas on what it might be would you? I appreciate your help.

I do not actually see smoke. On the first cold start of the day it pops and sputters and I smell a whiff of smoke. Smells like gas I think. I usually try to give it enough gas where it does not sputter much. After that first start it runs pretty smooth the rest of the day although going up hills it pings a bit. Thanks for answering my question. It stopped this sputtering after installing the plugs and wires but today (a few days after installation) it did the same thing on start up. The check engine light came back on in about a day.

Would new spark plugs be able to affect the issue at all as they seem to have done? I need to get to the auto parts store tomorrow to check the code, but it seems weird that the problem seemed solved and then came back.

My check engine light came on. Mechanic traced it to codes PO171 and PO174, lean bank 1 & 2. Only symptoms of problem is intermittent rough idle. So far we have changed fuel filter, cleaned air intake, checked for vacuum leaks (OK), checked fuel psi (OK). Engine size is 5.4L. Any ideas as to what to look for? Thank you

HI MY NAME IS RAFAEL WELL I HAVE A F-150 4.2L V6 I HAVE THE TRUBLE CODE BU I DONT KNOW WAT IT IS OR MEANS AND NOONE WILL HELP ME AND I CAND SEM TO FIND IT IN THE MANUAL MY CODE IS P-1538 I WANT TO FIX IT BUT IDK HOW OR WAT IT IS IF YOU COULD GET BACK TO ME I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT THANKS RAFAEL

Sorry but thats the code its p01538 intake manifold runner conrtol stuck open bank 2 thats wat it is but I still cant fix it and im waistin alot of gas with this problem please help new idle control spark plugs wires new egr all that a still nothin please help