hi guys, anyone had the problem of the service engine light coming on and off? comes on sometimes, then goes off, then might or might not come on again. Previous owner said that the sensor was busted, and I might agree with that, coz it never stays on continuously or always comes on, and my engine is doing fine, mechanic checked the car out, said no problem, in fact offered to buy it!!! Was just wondering if anyone else had this problem though, and what to do about fixing it?

 

Well could be a # of things...

Did you retrieve the code? There is a procedure in the Haynes, Chilton Helm manuals or on the home page of this website. Without the code, it's hard to say why the light comes on or if the common source has been replaced.

It could be that the computer has an old code stored and needs to be reset. Disconnect the battery for 30 minutes to reset the computer. If the light comes on again, there is a reason that needs to be looked into. If it stays off -- you're golden.

FYI My 83's occasionally comes on and goes off. Checked the code I get a code "45". Due to the fact that my dwell meter is broken (I need it to diagnose), the car passed emmissions in its current condition, and it goes off after a while, I chose to deal with it at a later date.

 

Yep, same here.

Unless the car is running bad I ignore that stupid idiot light. Too many times it ran me in circles throwing cash at imaginary problems.

If it runs good, I ignore it.

 

Sounds like the dreaded 32. My car does the exact same thing, like everyone said, if it runs fine don't fix it. If you're like me and the light drives you crazy, one fix is to pull the bulb out of the dash. Not exactly recommended but hey, it works.

 

I aggree its the dreaded code 32, my car did it all the time. It usually occurs at 70mph or above for some reason.

 

DON'T TOTALLY IGNORE IT.
BUT in an instance as you report, (& I know the fun, too) it TENDS to be EGR related.
Solutions?
Better connections or FRESH NEW RUBBER VACUUM LINES to the EGR system.
Download code for the "problem" & give a shout back.

 

I have a problem like this with a Chevy truck I own. It always throws a VSS code and I lose my speedometer. The VSS is on the trany tailshaft and everything else down there is in tip-top shape - Another Darryl Young tranny with a alum deep sump, alum BeCool and an auxiliary Derale 16 pass cooler w/ fan just to be safe for those heavy loads and hot days. Heat and vibration are defeinately not a problem but SES light still comes and goes. Its got to be a short in the dash.

Anyway, I still check the code and then clear it about every 2-3 weeks just to be certain there's no other codes that have snuck in there.

 

Thanks for everyones input! Will check it out and log in later to specify what code it was. Now for teh really dumb part!!. Am pretty bad with cars, (used to drive a motorcycle before this, adn was good with that, but with cars ......) , how do I go about checking up on this light and finding teh code? I know, kinda dumb, but hey, I'm learning thanks!!!!

 

There is never such a thing as a dumb question. Always remember that nobody is born with it-- we all have had to learn from someone or something at one time or another.

The ALDL link in your car is just to the lower right of the steering column. There should be a retangular cover plate there that just snaps off- under it you'll see the 1-12 connection pins from the how-to section in the tech board we directed you to.

 

thanks man! will check up on it when i get back in town in a couple of weeks, and will let you know whats up with the code! Pretty sure its nothing, but just to be on the safe side.......

 

how do you get the computer to flash out codes with an intermittant problem. I don't think that the computer saves the codes on an OBD1 car if the problem goes away. My light comes on after I get off the freeway and sit at a light. While I'm on the freeway my engine temp is about 160, but then when I get off the freeway and idle at a light it goes up to about 220 and the idle speed goes up and the light pops on. After I start moving again and get up to about 40 mph it goes away until I stop again.

 

2point8boy,
On an OBDI car, if the fault goes away the SES light will shut off BUT the fault is still stored in history for a certain number of warm-up cycles. You can still jumper pins A and B in the ALDL connector and pull the codes.

 

Yeah, mine comes on and off, but car runs fine. I always have people asking about it, if the car will be ok, are we going to break down, etc. I thought about pulling the bulb out, but is there any way to take that panel that says, "Service Engine Soon" and make it say something else? I want to put something in there that says NOS and tell people that it means my NOS system is armed or something like that. . . something stupid.

 

HOW ABOUT A SIGN THAT SAYS
LET'S EAT AT PAT'S AND GINO CHEESESTEAKS!