Hi guys

My wife was driving our 96 sse home from work today, when suddenly the "check engine" light came on. It seems to run just fine... no noticable ill effects. I disconnected the battery for about 30 min, then reconected it and the light is still on, even before I start the engine. [Perhaps thats normal?] Anyway, the light is on right away as the engine starts, and stays on.

I know I probably need to get the codes checked, but in my area every garage wants $100.00 just to read the darn codes...

Any other suggestions before I shell out $100.00 just to find out which sensor is acting up?

Thanks

I think Autozone does it for free or something. Did you have the heat on while the SES light came on?

We dont have Autozone here in Canada. :( The heat was on low, [ACC] but turning if off did not make any difference..

Thanks

How many miles on the car? My EGR did something similiar like that. Even resetting it on a laptop and disconecting the battery, the light would still come on. Just a very wild geuss though...

Its got just over 200000 km or 120000 miles. The lower intake gasket, and upper manifold were changed about 8000 km ago.

Thanks

Nuthing but 50 guesses at this point. You need a scan.

Did you try tightening you gas cap?Check it then drive it a couple of miles. If my cap isn't tight my engine light will come on.
Other than That I say get a scan.

When the gas cap is not tight the car fails when the pressure (vacuum) test is done. The system checks to see if the system is sealed and if it loses pressure too quickly it turns the check engine light on steady indicating emissions problem. Happened twice on my 98.

The first time the dealer (I was dumb and took it in thinking it was engine) found the hose to the evap canister rotted away at the end.

Second time I had read my manuals and tightened cap. ThenI drove the car after it was cool until it just started to move the gauge up. Stopped for a few minutes (to get coffee) and when I restarted the emissions test was done and the light turned off. The emissions test is done only when coolant is between two temperatures, like 110-150. So a lukewarm restart is when the test gets done; not cold start and not hot start.

Where in Ontario are you? I have a OBDII code reader.

You guys must be psychic...

Got the code read on the weekend... Sure enough... it was the darn gas cap.