CB Radio activates check engine light

[ProblemF250]

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]

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

 

[cbaker65]

Breaker breaker 19....check engine!....

 

[blacksnapon]

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]

The radio was installed in all three truck in the identical way.

How is it wired- where are you pulling power from?

 

[kiwi f150]

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]

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]

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.