Check engine light

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have a later tach cluster in my '85 that has a CEL. Stock my '85 had no use for a CEL and has only gotten more crude since then so it does nothing.

I poked at it a few years ago when I did the cluster swap, I don't remember what I did but I couldn't find a way to make the CEL lamp actually come on. Has anyone done this?

My new EFI setup has provisions to run two fans and I can set the temps when they come and off... and I got to thinking about setting the second "fan" at like 220* and have it turn on the CEL.

@Shran

 

[Shran]

I bet you could solder some wires onto the gauge cluster flexible circuit "board" thing and run those to your EFI controller so that the light & fan come on at the same time.

That said does your EFI controller have a CEL provision? You could just wire it so that the CEL is actually the CEL, lol. My buddy used Affordable Fuel Injection and his had that, but he just ran a little yellow LED on the dash of his Jeep.

 

[Curious Hound]

You should sit back and relax and thank the Good Lord that your CEL is not on. Enjoy the good times while you have them.

 

[SenorNoob]

IIRC it's ground switched by the PCM. Should be easy enough to replicate if you have the wire coming off the back of the cluster.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I bet you could solder some wires onto the gauge cluster flexible circuit "board" thing and run those to your EFI controller so that the light & fan come on at the same time.

That said does your EFI controller have a CEL provision? You could just wire it so that the CEL is actually the CEL, lol. My buddy used Affordable Fuel Injection and his had that, but he just ran a little yellow LED on the dash of his Jeep.

I haven't seen anything for a CEL in the wiring diagram.

I am thinking about just gluing a generic LED into the cluster that just needs a power and a ground.

Like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Pre-Wired-Transparent-Resistor-Indicator-Emitting/dp/B08G4X12YG/?tag=959media-20

Just run power from the efi system and ground it in the cab and we are done, should be super easy.

The issue is my "good gauges" are down by the tranny hump. If she starts getting hot it would be nice to have something on the dash try to get my attention. With the dual fan control I can have the fans set to come on at like 200 and the CEL to come on at like 215 or so.

Running out to Kentucky last time I popped the fuse for the fans and running 75 on the interstate with the A/C on it jumped to 220 very fast.