Here's the story...

My SES light has been coming on for the past couple months, only when the engine is hot, and I'm idling at a red light. As soon as I'm moving forward again, the SES light goes out. And this doesn't happen until I've been driving for about 20+ minutes.

The car runs fine/normal, no problem.

Today, I went through a car wash, drove the car 5 minutes home, and as soon as I pulled into the garage, my "Choke" light came on, and it made a loud squealing/buzzing noise. When I gave it more gas, the noise lessened.

I parked the car, then drove it to the mechanic a few hours later, the Choke light was on the entire time. And again, the more gas I gave it, the less the noise.

What do you think is going on? My mechanic tends to ignore the SES light, saying that the computer is so old that it doesn't give a lot of information to go on.

But the Choke light is brand new, that has NEVER come on before. I didn't even know I had a Choke light...lol...

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

There is a low tech but effective code reader you can buy made by Actron that comes with a book, good place to start for ODB1 cars like ours. You may be able to buy a "key" at your local autoparts store that is made for jumping the pins - same result as the actron tool but without the book. here's a recent post that gives some info about the process. https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/elec...imary-fan.html

Here's one from the fac section: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/faq-...s-ecm-get.html

Somewhere on the board there is a list of all codes that's worth searching for.

Anyway, I really disagree with your shop. there is a lot of info available in the shop manuals to check out once the computer code(s) are known. Find out what the code and you'll probably be closer to solving your trbles.

 

Check your oil first.

The oil pressure switch is a closed switch until it has pressure, then it opens and feeds voltage to the choke.

 

Sounds like your alternator is bad if the choke light and noises just started.

 

I dunno about the choke light itself, but just from that slice of info I'd go to another mechanic that knows 80's GM cars. Yes, those SES lights are generally emissions related, but you usually want to diagnose any SES lights first. Other problems may be caused by the issue thats causing the light to come on. I mean christ, he could have at least pulled the codes.

 

Not on an 86 Camaro.

Check the choke heater fuse first. If it's good then replace the alternator.

 

alternator i had the same problem and after i replaced it the noise went away and light hasnt come back on.

 

I agree with the others...alternator issues. If you disconnect the alternator while driving (ie: throwing a belt) the choke light will come on immediately. The squealing you are hearing is probably from the worn or wet V belts after the car wash.

 

The choke light is used also to tell you that the alternator is bad like the other guys said.
This was true on my 83 multiple times.

 

last time the choke light came on for me . I found it melted to the exhaust manifold repaired the wire and replaced the fuse = fixed.