and yes if you take it to a tech they will charge you just to check it out we do at the dealer i work at.
first find out what the code is and go from there

 

This may help:
1) you can pay a local tech to check it for a fee.
2) go to autozone/pepboys/checker and ask it to be checked or buy the cheapest code reader you can buy around $40-$70 for OBOII vehicles domestics 94-04 Fords.
3) I had a customer who had constant check engine light troubles but different problem, I could not figure out the problem as code reader stated left Bank is lean? So just disconnect the negative/black battery terminal tap it against the battery twice and tighten it back down. See it this helps but this is a temporary fix.

 

alright im going to get them read at auto zone right now lol

 

yes i got them today

 

alright i got the codes...

its more than one..

p0306= cylinder missfire detected cylinder number 6

p0401= EGR system fault (exhaust gas recirculation)

p0303= cylinder miss fire detected cylinder number 3

p0414= secondary air injection system fault

p0411= same as the one above...

ANY ONE HAVE AN IDEA????????

 

wow. how long you been driving that thing with the CEL on?

 

toooo long if its to expensive to fix im getting rid of it

 

And if it's too expensive to fix, I'm taking it off his hands Bring on the project. lol.

 

The tech you talked to was probably right. A misfire that has been overlooked can cause the cats to fail.

 

When I heard it running today, It sounds like it's starting to knock. It is clearly misfiring and the exhaust is way louder than it should used to be, Would that be caused by the cats going out?

I want to try: A full tune-up and Change oil to a 10w-30 Blend (due to HIGH miles) with new filter and see what happens. What do you guys think?