# 2001 Ford Taurus: how serious is emission control light?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-ford-taurus-how-serious-is-emission-control-light/124610>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** taurus, ford\
**Created:** [September 8, 2018, 7:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-ford-taurus-how-serious-is-emission-control-light/124610 "2018-09-08T19:42:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Terry-P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Terry-P](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Terry-P)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2018, 7:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-ford-taurus-how-serious-is-emission-control-light/124610/1 "2018-09-08T19:42:42Z")

</div>

84K miles. Emission Control System problem indicator light has come on. Car has been running fine. First opportunity for diagnostic check coming up this Monday. How serious is this? Should I worry? Anything easy (besides gas cap) I can check on my own?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2018, 7:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-ford-taurus-how-serious-is-emission-control-light/124610/2 "2018-09-08T19:49:13Z")

</div>

> [@Terry\_P](#):
>
> Emission Control System problem indicator light has come on

Do you mean the Check Engine Light?

> [@Terry\_P](#):
>
> How serious is this? Should I worry?

If it is flashing, don’t drive the car. That is serious. Anything else is a guess. Worry is up to you, we can’t help with that.

If it just lit, check to see if the gas cap is tight. That’s about all you can do without knowing the error codes that set off the light.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2018, 10:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-ford-taurus-how-serious-is-emission-control-light/124610/3 "2018-09-09T22:19:11Z")

</div>

> [@Mustangman](#):
>
> Do you mean the Check Engine Light?

This particular Taurus has a particular warning symbol . . . which depicts a fuel filler cap

Sounds like the pcm has detected a problem with the evap system

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Terry-P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Terry-P](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Terry-P)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2018, 10:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-ford-taurus-how-serious-is-emission-control-light/124610/4 "2018-09-09T22:25:08Z")

</div>

Mustang, no it’s not the check engine, which I thought when it first came on. It is the Emission Control System indicator light.