Service Engine Soon Light

[johnf]

On our way home from Moab last week the “service engine soon” light came on and the van started to shut off occasionally, but it always restarted.

I just purchased a Scanguage II but it indicates there are no codes stored and no codes pending and the Scanguage will not reset the light. Has anyone else had this experience? I set up the Scanguage per the owner’s manual, is there something else I need to set up to be able to read the codes?

I don’t think its bad diesel fuel because we have gone through more than one tank since it started. I drained the water off the fuel with no improvement. I cleaned the battery terminals and checked that they were fully charged. Before we left Moab I purchased a spare cam shaft position switch but I have not installed it yet. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
John

[SheepShagger]

I didn't know the 6.0 had a service engine light, mine only has an engine check light, or is yours a 7.3? I've read a lot of issues with anything reading the 7.3 correctly. But there are loads of codes the scanguage can't read, but it'll usually give me a P0000 for those codes. Also found that it's better at reading codes if the engine is off with ignition on. There isn't anything special to do with the scanguage other then plug it in and let it sort itself out.
If you drained off water, then I would suspect you have fuel issues, mine was acting like yours just before the fuel pump went, and only when it went did I get a real code the scanguage could read.

[BMWBILO]

My 1999 7.3 Powerstroke did what you describe about a year after I purchased it.
Would shut off but restart and run for a while. Wound up being the cam sensor
which seemed to be a common thing with the 7.3. Mine did it again a couple years
later and I had it replaced again under warantee. Can't remember when it was but
I got a recall leter from Ford and it was for a new and improved cam sensor. So I've
had 3 of them installed. Not sure if this scangauge detects a bad cam sensor.