Another member was kind enough to send me a private message to another post confirming that on 82 Firebirds the computer will stop communicating properly with the scan tool if the SES light is disabled or disconnected.

Can anyone else confirm this or tell me where it is addressed in the 82 shop manual (if it is addressed) so I can read more about it?

I want to better understand this bizarre issue.

Without the SES bulb, you can't repair emissions issues with your car! Grrrr....

Lee B.

 

I have the manual on the 82 firebird, although I have not gone through it doing a thorough search for your problem. I have found several charts in it referring to the remote lamp driver and the fact that there is a connection between the SES light and the gages fuse. If you need this info, let me know and I will e-mail it to you.

 

Thanks again SO much.

From what i'm told, the ECM will run the car OK without the SES light working, but the ECM will not communicate with the scan tool if the SES light is not working.

I wanted to clarify to hopefully help some other poor soul who runs into this.

It cost my friend a few bucks when he needed to pass emissions, and me 4-6 hours when the light driver module was burned out.

However, I learned a ton, so it's not a total loss...

Lee B.