How do i find out what i have to do to read the serice light in my 1986 ford thunderbird with a 5l

Could be in need of tune up, spark plugs & wires, coil packs, fuel filter,&/or ECM/PCM (computer) going bad.

Few engine sizes there...

1986 Ford Thunderbird 2.3 liter SOHC Turbo L4




1986 Ford Thunderbird 5.0 liter V-8




1986 Ford Thunderbird 3.8 liter V-6 VIN "3" (click over pic for zoom)




Hope this helps (remember to rate and comment this answer).

you have checked the fuses? particularly one labeled "acc on"?

You may have a faulty ground wire from the battery to the grounding source (usually fender wall or engine block)corrosion on the wire will cause a bad ground source, other probable cause are a week battery or a broken connection in the wire from the alternator to the ecu

I would check that the engine oil level is high, then I would check that the pressure is high enough by plugging a gauge into the oil pressure switch socket after removing the oil pressure switch.

There is a possibility that the oil pressure switch is bad, or the oil pump has failed, unfortunately.

Get under your gas tank and follow the lines. one of them should lead not far away from the tank where most filters are located. When you change it remember to release pressure by take loose the gas cap...and have some rags ready to catch some overflow.

if you have a set of noid lights check for injector pulse if you do not have pulse and no spark you have a bad pick up (hall effect sensor) inside the distributor this also would account for your prior problem with your timing because this pick- up (hall effect sensor) if it starts to short internally can effect ignition timing and missfires and also for the voltage changes

Have you checked the contacts to make sure they are touching the bulb base. I have a 1995 Ford Contour that did the same thing. I took a screwdriver and bent the contacts out very slightly and it has worked fine ever since.

take the insturment panel apart and replace light

Hi,

Why do you want to replace the charcoal purge canister? Are you smelling fuel vapor under the hood?

On a 1986 (this is posted on the 1986 forum), it is held on by a screw (possibly a rivet).

In my opinion, I'd leave the vapor canister alone. If you really want to spend $50 on something, buy new seat covers.

--Mark

http://www.marksatterfield.com