Does the check light come on when you crank the starter.
If not you probably have a bad or missing bulb.
It is common for people to remove the bulb to sell a car.
Yes
There are lots of different reasons a check engine light can come on does the car feel any different?
There are pages and pages of things that can cause a check engine light. You need to have it checked with a scantool. Then the code can be diagnosed and repaired.
Check the timing belt.
You will need a engine scanner to scan the engine. Some parts stores will do this for free.
Check the coolant in the 96 Taurus. Check to insure that the thermostat is working properly, and that the water pump is working.
VTEC may or may not work when the check engine light is on. It depends on why the check engine light is one. If it is on because of a problem with the VTEC system, then, no, it will not work properly.
HAVE VEHICLE SCANNED TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM
There are pages and pages of things that can cause a check engine light. You need to have it checked with a scantool. Then the code can be diagnosed and repaired.
There are pages and pages of things that can cause a check engine light. You need to have it checked with a scantool. Then the code can be diagnosed and repaired.
yes
Depends on which engine and how much work you are willing to do.