For a few months I've noticed my idle wasn't as smooth as it could be, and it really annoyed me. I had no indication of what could be causing the problem and I had already replaced a bunch of parts.

This morning on my way to work the SES light came on for about 10 seconds. I've never been so happy to see that light. Maybe it will help me figure out what the heck is wrong with my car.

I think the car has been running a little rich, so hopefully the SES light isn't telling me that my relatively new O2 sensor is dying.

I'm also crossing my fingers that it has nothing to do with the EGR, cause mine is digital and very expensive.

Anyways, does the computer store the codes that come up intermittently?

If so, I should be able to drive down to Autozone or something and borrow a code scanner right?

 

Yes, it stores them.

https://www.thirdgen.org/service-eng...ht-error-codes

Yours will be pins 5 and 6, not 6 and 12.

 

I never understood how people manually read codes. How do you actually interpret the pauses and flashes into numbers?

From the article you posted it states:
"will flash the "Service Engine Soon" light in the following sequence: flash, pause, flash-flash, long pause flash, pause, flash-flash, long pause flash, pause, flash-flash, long pause Following this "12" code..."

How does that sequence relate to the number 12 and how would I interpret other sequences?

Thanks

 

The sequence and duration of the flash. One short flash, followed by a pause would be a 1. Two short flashes followed by a pause would be a two. So when it does one short flash, pause, then two short flashes with no pause, it equates to a 12. It will do that three times before giving you the actual error code(12 means 'System OK', which would be telling you that the check engine system is functioning...if no other code besides 12 follows, then there are no codes stored).

 

I wondered how to read the codes for the longest time...
It was so obvious

Thanks for the explanation. I'll try it out tonight.

 

Code 45: O2 Sensor Rich

Well I suspected my car has been running rich, but I have no idea why.

I recently rebuilt the distributor, new module, coil, pickup coil, spark plugs. The O2 sensor was also recently replaced.

I wonder what could be causing a rich condition. Besides the slightly rough idle, the car runs fine, and the SES light has only flashed the one time.

 

Search this forum for 'o2 sensor rich' or 'oxygen sensor rich' and you should find some various information to help you out.

 

I searched around and couldn't find anything very concrete. I guess I'm going to have to just throw some money at my car until the problem is solved.

I've always suspected my fuel injectors, so I think I'll start there. Even if that's not the problem, I think I'll feel better knowing there a new set in there. This is my only car and need it to get to work. So I can't just send of my existing set to get cleaned.

RockAuto has a Standard Motor Products brand fuel injector for a pretty good price. I've also considered the 15lb Accel Injectors.

The Accels are the yellow top variant and I believe I have heard some bad things about them.

Have any recommendations?

 

There's a lot of results for 'code 45'. None of them helped?

 

They narrowed the possibilities down, but it's still a guessing game.

Fuel injectors, fuel pressure regulator, Coolant temperature sensor, egr valve, maybe tps, maybe map...

I did read about one guy that had a similar problem. There was some argument about whether it was the CTS or the injectors. It ended up being the injectors.

I guess I could start with the cheapest stuff first.

My car has also been a little more difficult to start than usual. I wonder if that is related at all.