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Service Engine soon light?

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Old Apr 27, 2005 | 10:55 AM
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Default Service Engine soon light?

My light has come on, sometimes it goes on and off if the road changes incline.
I just had an oil change and I checked oil it is fine
radator fluid is fine
added power steering fluid
What else could it be? What should I look at next?
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Old Apr 27, 2005 | 11:59 AM
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Pull the codes by jumping the A B terminals.
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Old Apr 27, 2005 | 12:11 PM
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Luckily, with our cars we can scan them without a scantool. All you need is a peice of wire or paper clip or something to that effect.

Refer here for the procedure. Then tell us what code you get and we can go from there.
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Old Apr 27, 2005 | 01:32 PM
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Thank you I had no clue you could do this. I will try it or have hubby do it. THANK YOU
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Old Apr 27, 2005 | 02:46 PM
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Well, finally someone in the same boat as me. I too have that problem. The problem is, you won't get any code [other than code 12, which means everything is fine], unless the SES light is ON. I have been able to catch mine a few times, and all it would do is make my car stall [never has it done that in the past]. I'm thinking it is my ECU failing, but I have yet to actually get the code.


-justin
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Old Apr 27, 2005 | 04:36 PM
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Yah those codes leave a lot to be desired on these ECM'*.
When my crank sensor went out the car would stall with a chack engine light and No Codes!
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Old Apr 27, 2005 | 07:49 PM
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Actually justin, our cars can display a code without the light on. I have/had an intermittent EGR problem, and the light would come on, say, on the highway, and it would go off back in town, and when i got home and checked the codes (light off) i would get the code 32 out of it. It may not ALWAYS store the code, but they do have somewhat of a history memory.
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Old Apr 27, 2005 | 09:08 PM
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SES light is not just set by sensors, sometimes other things (no oil pressure, no charge) can also turn it on. In those cases generally another guage or idiot light will be indicative.

That said if the problem is electrical, it will set a code providing the engine will run for a few seconds. Bad crank sensor won't start so will not set code either.

Most codes take certain engine conditions and a duration to set but if a sensor condition turns the SES light on it will set a code that will last until cleared or the battery is disconnected.
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Old Apr 28, 2005 | 10:28 AM
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I haven't had a chance to check the code. I am moving this week. once I find the code and fix the problem do I need to disconnect the battery to get the light to go out? If I don't fix the problem, if I disconnet the battery will that turn the light out? It is hard driving at night with a big orange light on, it sure is bright. You guys are really great and I really appreciate you answering all my dumb questions.
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Old Apr 28, 2005 | 12:52 PM
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Well yes and no, resetting the computer (disconnectiing the battery for 5 minutes) will TEMPORARILY turn the light out. It will not, however, fix whatever problem the light is trying to inform you of. If it REALLY bothers you, put a piece of black electrical tape over it and forget it.
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