Check Engine Light

If your check engine light stays on with your engine running , that indicates a malfunction with your emission control system has been detected . If your check engine light is flashing on and off with your engine running that indicates a spark plug ( or spark plugs ) are misfiring . Have your vehicle scanned for any trouble codes in order to diagnose and repair the malfunction

Turn the radio off and hold down the station tuning button for about 10-15 seconds. You should have some options come on on your radio's screen. Scroll through the options by pressing the seek button on the radio until you see (Oil Life) then press the station tuning button again it should say RESET. If it does press it again and it will say DONE.

A Service Engine light and a Check Engine light have the same purpose - to alert the driver that a malfunction has been detected by a sensor(s). It would behoove you to take your vehicle to an auto parts store (AutoZone or similar) that does free scans and have the touble code(s) retrieved to find what made the light come on. Some manufacturers call it a Check Engine light and others call it a Service Engine light, but as mentioned above they serve the same pirpose. I don't think your vehicle would have it labeled both ways.

I'm not sure how old this question is since these are not date stamped. I am new to this site and may have purchased your car since you posted this. Anyway here goes.

I just purchased a 1996 Jaguar XJ6 from a Dealer who just traded it in the same day. The check engine light was on but the car looked clean and ran great so I thought I would take a chance. This was an incredible risk as I have never owned a Jaguar. I have learned everything so far from message boards.

The first thing I purchased was a handheld OBD II code reader from AutoZone to read the check engine codes. It was the best $90.00 I ever spent. Anyway I trapped similar cylinder misfire codes and was able to determine it was the Ignition Coil. There is one per cylinder so be prepared to spend some money. I had one go bad and the car suddenly ran bad so I was able to trace the problem quite easily. Once I trapped the code I could tell which cylinder, swap two coils, and verify the problem followed the coil.

My suggestion is to first replace your spark plugs. I suggest Bosch Platinum +4 from Auto Zone. If that does not resolve the problem you need to replace your ignition coils. My car has 90,000 miles so I replaced all 6. AutoZone can actually get them for approx. $100.00 per coil. Don't be too quick to choke as everyone else wants $280.00-$350.00 per coil.

I have also had the same problem on a 1995 Vanden Plas and the solution was simple, expensive and difficult to locate. The part you will need is a valve cover (OEM #NBC2564CB) and since they are no longer being inventoried by the manufacturer, it will be difficult to find. Expect to pay about $845.00 US to get the part. What happens is the matterial that lines the inside of the cover deteriorates and allows the spark plugs to arc, causing the problems you brought up.

Good luck.

disconnect the battery for a few minutes and it will go out. but it will come back on as it can mean it has something wrong you will need a code reader to figure it out

The light is on to tell you that the computer has information for you. Use a code scanner and the computer will tell you why the engine is not running well.

you have a problem known to many alero and Pontiac grand am cars you have a bad wheel bearing,this is a common problem with these cars and they will not do a recall on this.you need to have your front wheel bearing hubassemblies replaced its not a bad job can be done by a decent backyard mechanic but a lot cheaper then going to the dealer, just save your reciepts in case they do recall your car for this problem they will reimburse you for your cost.

If you have service engine light on, trac. off light and the ABS light on the same time, you may be able to get it fixed my reprogramming the power control module (with updated software calibration). Mine was fixed for free at a dealer under a recall campaign when GM called me yesterday.

Any of the newer, more elaborate OBD2 code scanners can do that for you. If you don't want to buy one you can probably borrow one from your local auto parts retailer. They can often help you figure it all out if you go at a time when they're not too busy. if the problem is fixed, disconnect battery for 5 minutes then erconnect battery, this will reset the messages in computer

If the light goes on and off, you will need to have the vehicle scanned with an OBDII reader. the computer should show a pending code logged in someware. once you retreive the code, you can then start to diagnose the problem. most common reasons for the lamp to go on and off are the following: Oxygen sensor(s)

MAP (Manifold absoulute Pressure sensor)

Purge solenoid on charcoal canister.

A flashing check engine light is an indicator of a serious misfire (usually more than one cylinder or consistent misfiring of a single cylinder). Have your OBDII codes read at auto zone or the like. They can tell you atleast what cylinders etc. are misfiring. This indicates a serious problem with the emissions system. The owners manual states that if the check engine light is flashing, do not drive the car!

On most vehicles, after the problem is taken care of, the check engine light resets automatically after the ignition is turned off and then the engine is started again. If you have fixed one problem, a second problem probably exists.

It's telling you the revolution sensor is not matching the revolutions of the engine. The ECU takes over and cuts current to the AC when this happens and the ac light will start blinking. A turn the AC of then turn it back on and it's not blinking tells you the problem is going to lead to no AC if you don't get it fixed.

the oxygen sensor(sensors)

Usually indicative or a problem with the emission control system - have vehicle scanned to determine the problem

You can turn the light off a couple of ways, if you want it off for a short time like enough time to get an emissions done, just disconnect the battery for a couple of minutes. This will only work for a while though, after the computer receives the fault codes from the sensors it will cut back on. The very best way is to just find out why its on and break down and repair the problem. This is the only sure way to get it off. The final and cheapest way...Black electrical tape over the light -Wcb56

The number 5 engine cylinder is misfiring

The check engine light (service engine soon) comes on and stays on when a problem is detected by the self diagnosis system of your vehicle. Generally, the problem is in the emissions or something that is affecting the effectiveness of the emissions, but other causes can trigger the light to come on, too. To determine the cause, the vehicle will need to be taken to AutoZone or a shop that has an OBD2 scanner, or for 1995 and earlier models, an OBD1 scanner, While a scanner will not give you the magic answer, it will give you a code that narrows down the problem area.

You can't. But you can ask AutoZone to do it for you for no charge.

I keep reading that you cannot check DTC on a OBDII system. That is not true. There may be cars that you can't check the codes, however, I own a 2000 Dodge Intrepid and a 2005 Nissan Altima SE and I can check both of them.

Intrepid - key on, key off, key on, off, key on, key off and the DTC will show on the trip dometer.

Altima - This one is a little trickier. I can't remember the exact procedure. I have it written down somewhere. But, you have to turn key on, press gas pedal, wait 7 seconds, etc. and the DTC will also show on the trip odometer.

So, please, don't make a blanket statement concerning not being able to check the codes on a OBDII system especially if it's not true.

Scan tool, will give you a trouble code as to why the computer turned the check engine light on.

The check engine light (service engine soon) comes on and stays on when a problem is detected by the self diagnosis system of your vehicle. Generally, the problem is in the emissions or something that is affecting the effectiveness of the emissions, but other causes can trigger the light to come on, too. To determine the cause, the vehicle will need to be taken to AutoZone or a shop that has an OBD2 scanner, or for 1995 and earlier models, an OBD1 scanner, While a scanner will not give you the magic answer, it will give you a code that narrows down the problem area.

The check engine light comes on and stays on when a problem is detected by the self diagnosis system of your vehicle.

Generally, a check engine light is lit when there is a problem in the emissions or somthing that is affecting the effectiveness of the emissions.

If the check engine light is flashing a misfire has been detected

Trouble code P0404 means:Exhaust gas recirculation circuit range/performance

Trouble code P0420 means:Catalyst system efficiency below threshold

CODE 23** Indicates that the air temp sensor input is below the minimum acceptable voltage or sensor input is above the acceptable voltage.