1997 Ford Taurus Service Engine Soon Light

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WHATANIDEA
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Hey, my 97 Ford Taurus has the "service engine soon" light on. I had my car recently serviced at the ford dealer, they did the 90000 mile service (it now has about 924000 miles, the service was done about 6 weeks ago). While they were doing that service they found things wrong with the car, like a oil pan gasket leak and a left axle seal leak. They wanted 360 for the oil pan gasket problem to be fixed and 150 for the left axle seal leak. We got the 90k service done and we told them to fix the oil pan gasket leak. We didnt get the left axle seal leak fixed, it would be like a grand at once so we asked them which is more urgent to be fixed and they said the oil pan gasket, so we got that fixed. So do you think that the check engine light is on beacause we didnt get the left axle seal leak problem fixed? They didnt tell us anything else what was wrong with the car, im dont know ifs a serious thing or not? im realy worried now.

Thanks for your help!
Jul 25, 2006 at 8:42 AM
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MIKEYBDMAN
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[quote:242ecd88cf="whatanidea"]Hey, my 97 Ford Taurus has the "service engine soon" light on. I had my car recently serviced at the ford dealer, they did the 90000 mile service (it now has about 924000 miles, the service was done about 6 weeks ago). While they were doing that service they found things wrong with the car, like a oil pan gasket leak and a left axle seal leak. They wanted 360 for the oil pan gasket problem to be fixed and 150 for the left axle seal leak. We got the 90k service done and we told them to fix the oil pan gasket leak. We didnt get the left axle seal leak fixed, it would be like a grand at once so we asked them which is more urgent to be fixed and they said the oil pan gasket, so we got that fixed. So do you think that the check engine light is on beacause we didnt get the left axle seal leak problem fixed? They didnt tell us anything else what was wrong with the car, im dont know ifs a serious thing or not? im realy worried now.

Thanks for your help![/quote:242ecd88cf]

I rather doubt the service enging soon light is because of that leak. Go to your local parts store, and have them read the engine code and see what it faults. It is most likely not related to the service that was done on your car. Probably something like a O2 sensor or something has gone bad. The code will tell you what is wrong.
Jul 25, 2006 at 9:39 AM
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WHATANIDEA
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by parts store, do you mean autozone? i have one in the town i am in. How much will it cost for them to read the code and tell me what the code is?
Jul 25, 2006 at 10:16 AM
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TAURUSWHEEL
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 718 POSTS
Be wary of those recommended service packages, they'll Break your bank.. You'd be better off taking your car to a trusted local repair shop and have them give it the once-over... Autozone will scan your car for free, make sure you get the codes... better yet I always recommend that people buy their own scan tool and lear n to do it themselves,, not much dollars comsidering all the other crap we buy.. you don't need to go fancy.. no need to be concerned about that light, get the code, post it here, someone may be able to get you going in the right direction..
Jul 25, 2006 at 10:43 AM
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SERVICE WRITER
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The axle seal leak is not related to the check engine light. TaurusWheel is right on the trusted local repair shop.
Jul 25, 2006 at 12:11 PM

Suggested Repair

The left axle seal leak is not related to the service engine soon light. Have a parts store scan the car for free, or use a basic scan tool, and record the codes. Then have a trusted independent shop diagnose the codes rather than relying on dealer service packages.

Conversation Summary

The owner of a 1997 Ford Taurus asked whether the service engine soon light was caused by an unrepaired left axle seal leak after a 90,000-mile dealer service and oil pan gasket repair. Experts said the axle seal leak is unrelated and the light is more likely from something such as a failed oxygen sensor. They recommended a free code scan at a parts store or a personal scan tool, posting the codes, and having a trusted local shop inspect the car.

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