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CB Radio activates check engine light

I have a small STOCK CB radio that I have used in my 2005 and 2011 F250's. I just bought a 2015 F250 and it seems that using the CB is setting off a code and causing the check engine light to come on. The radio was installed in all three truck in the identical way.
Anyone had this problem or have any fixes???
 

dustybumpers

don't play well w others
Are you using a mag mount antenna?
If so, loose it and hard wire a real antenna in

If you are using a real antenna, make sure it is grounded
 

blacksnapon

Moderator
Staff member
It happens when RF interference (from the CB radio) reacts with a particular component (whatever code it is). The fix is to re-route antanna wire, power wire away from wires to/or the component.
 

john112deere

caffeine junkie
Staff member
10,807
405
central Vermont
It happens when RF interference (from the CB radio) reacts with a particular component (whatever code it is). The fix is to re-route antanna wire, power wire away from wires to/or the component.

X2 to this . A job i had working for Tait Communications back in the 90s was installing radio telephones into all manner of vehicles and we came across faults like this quite often as computers in cars weren't particularly well shielded. Make sure that the power connections both go back to the battery and are well connected then make sure you are using a quality RG-58 coaxial antenna cable and that it is routed away from wiring looms and ecu components - only use proper connectors such as PL-259 or at a pinch bnc ..... never use electrical connectors. If you are using a 1/2 wave fibreglass antenna make sure that the bracket it's attached to is well grounded.
 

dustybumpers

don't play well w others
Make sure to fix the problem, and not keep using the radio, as eventually, it WILL burn out the component that throws the code.
 

CowboyBilly9Mile

Charter Member
7,118
442
USA
Along with rerouting the power wire, one old trick to discourage RF interference is to use coax for the power wire. Shielded power wire can be a good thing.
 

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