Bringing my car into autozone today to get me codes read. Maybe I am getting a misfire. Do codes always trip the check engine light?

 

Well my car isnt throwing any codes.

 

Did they read the pending codes?

 

No. I didnt know you can do that? I am assuming that it checks to see codes that the car thinks is coming? Ill go ask for that tomorrow.

 

The presence of a code means that the ecu has noted an out of spec parameter. Some codes are more urgent than others. In one case, you might have an out of spec condition that throws a code up, turning on the MIL (check engine light), but then the condition passes and the light goes out. The code is stored, but the urgency has passed. In other cases, the condition turns on the light, sets the code and then the condition passes, but the light stays on. This is more urgent. This will all vary from make to make, model to model, so you need to research your particular system.
Codes are never anticipated, appearing before the out of spec condition. Auto Zone is also a lousy way to read the codes because all they tell you is the number and the text book label associated with that code. A tech with a good diagnostic device can tell you much, much more.

 

If you do go to Autozone make sure you write down the codes, and pretty much ignore what the "tech" says they mean.

Then look them up here, and see what the Ford shop manual provide for a description, possible causes, and diagnostics tips.