Check Engine Light in '88?

88mustang_5.0sb · Jun 24, 2005

Do I have a check engine light in my 88 5.0? I took it to get it smogged and it passed emissions but since the light didn't go on when the key was turned on he failed me. I could have sworn that the 88 doesn't have one but when he checked the book it said 87 doesn't, 88 does. Anyone?

Modular2v · Jun 24, 2005

my 88 doesnt have one either...guy at emissions must have been a prick

50gt1988 · Jun 24, 2005

The 87 and 88s didn't come with engine check lights. The light slot is on the instrument cluster but they're not included.

tjm73 · Jun 24, 2005

Go to a different test site.

Is it a Califonia car? '88 non-California cars didn't get Mass-Air. I think the Mass-Air cars got the light and Speed Density cars did not get the light.

88 Fox GT · Jun 24, 2005

'88 Speed Density cars are not equipped with a check engine light. The place is there in the gauge cluster, but there is no wire from the computers harness. As stated before, only the California cars got mass air in '88.

Modular2v · Jun 24, 2005

i really hate speed density

88 Fox GT · Jun 24, 2005

Modular2v said:
i really hate speed density

Me too.

Modular2v · Jun 24, 2005

anyone know how much a maf conversion kit is? i might just go carbed

The Shape · Jun 24, 2005

Modular2v said:
i really hate speed density

Nothing wrong with speed density, go ask these guys www.50tech.com

tjm73 · Jun 24, 2005

Modular2v said:
anyone know how much a maf conversion kit is? i might just go carbed

331 not working so good?

I know this has been talked about before and it's not that much money to convert. Couple hundred bucks I think. Try a search.

Modular2v · Jun 24, 2005

tjm73 said:
331 not working so good?

I know this has been talked about before and it's not that much money to convert. Couple hundred bucks I think. Try a search.

its working fine...BUT it feels like its being held back ALOT.... that speed density is going to be really upset when i throw the 185 afrs on though lol, thanks i didnt even think about doing a search

88mustang_5.0sb · Jun 24, 2005

That's what I thought! It's not a CA car so it's speed density. I wonder where I could find proof that the 88 doesn't have a check engine light so he'll pass me. I hate to spend another $30 to go somewhere else. Ideas?

tjm73 · Jun 24, 2005

88mustang_5.0sb said:
That's what I thought! It's not a CA car so it's speed density. I wonder where I could find proof that the 88 doesn't have a check engine light so he'll pass me. I hate to spend another $30 to go somewhere else. Ideas?

GO backa nd tell him that he needs to do his job and that non CA cars didn't have check engien lights. It's his responsibility to know what he's testing.

If you say it's a Non-CA '88 Mustang he should know, or be able to find the test that's correct for that car. The test should be the same as for an '87 I imagine.

88mustang_5.0sb · Jun 24, 2005

He showed me in the book where it says that the 88 has a check engine lite with EEC-IV. I didn't tell him it was a non-CA car though. I'll call him. Thanks for the advice.

90mustangGT · Jun 24, 2005

Stupid moron emmisions tester, they will hire any anyone wont' they. Call the CA emmisions board and bitch hard because the tester was wrong and try to get him fired. Even if the CE light doesn't work, I am pretty sure that only applys to '96+ cars.

Mustang5L5 · Jun 24, 2005

87-88 non CA don't have CE lights.

I've been through the same BS at some local test stations.

88mustang_5.0sb · Jun 24, 2005

What the hell. I just talked to a friend of mine who works at a Ford dealer and he insisted that the SD and MAF cars both had check engine lights in 88. Argh! Can anyone find proof?!

JRPony · Jun 24, 2005

90mustangGT said:
Stupid moron emmisions tester, they will hire any anyone wont' they. Call the CA emmisions board and bitch hard because the tester was wrong and try to get him fired. Even if the CE light doesn't work, I am pretty sure that only applys to '96+ cars.

Must be nice to never be wrong. So the smog tech made a mistake; doesn't mean he should lose his job. Any car equipped with an MIL, regardless of year, has to have a functioning MIL light.
I also have a non-CA 88 GT and live in CA. Their is place on the cluster for the MIL, but it did not come equipped with the light.

90mustangGT · Jun 24, 2005

JRPony said:
Must be nice to never be wrong. So the smog tech made a mistake; doesn't mean he should lose his job. Any car equipped with an MIL, regardless of year, has to have a functioning MIL light.
I also have a non-CA 88 GT and live in CA. Their is place on the cluster for the MIL, but it did not come equipped with the light.

Everyone makes mistakes, but a job as simple as that and such a general situation like that should be a no-brainer. Maby I should rephrase what I said. I should have said "Either the inspector was improperly trained or the inspector is a complete idiot". In 1988 CARB required all the cars sold in CA to have the OBD-1 system, but not until 1990 did this become federal standard. The emmisions sticker will indicate California or Federal Emmisions.

HISSIN50 · Jun 24, 2005

If the factory manual states that there is no CEL (someone know?) then maybe you can go to the dealer and they will let you make a copy of that page and the cover of the book to show the source. Then take that with you.

Or I wonder if all else completely fails, you could allow the dude to run codes tos how there are no codes stored in the KAM.

Good luck.

Check Engine Light in '88?

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