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Check Engine Light
The check engine light comes on in a car when the engine is experiencing a problem. Ask questions here about your car's check engine light.
7,238 Questions
You may have something wrong with that cylinder that is causing a loss of compression or a loss of combustion on that cylinder. Those things were notorious for head gasket deterioration, which caused coolant to enter the cylinder, leading to a misfire, esp on initial start up.
Also, you may have a faulty coil tower on your coil pack. I have seen many coil packs needing replaced due to one coil failing on it. You also have 6 injectors that are fired by the computer. If you have a problem with the #4 injector, the #4 injector circuit, or the #4 injector driver in the computer, that would lead to a P0304 code.
Another situation I see frequently: If that engine has individual EGR ports to each cylinder, located in the intake manifold (some from about 96 on did), you may have a situation where all but #4 are stopped up. What happens is, when the EGR is commanded on, the imbalance of EGR gasses entering the cylinders causes that cylinder to go excessively lean in comparison with the other cylinders, thus causing a misfire on that cylinder.
It is never good to just blow parts on a vehicle when you have a trouble code and a check engine light. You need to determine what could cause a cylinder to misfire. The main causes of misfire to a cylinder are lack of ignition, lack of fuel, air/fuel to lean to that cylinder ( a vacuum leak right near that cylinder can also cause this), Loss of compression, or coolant entering cylinder. Answer
WINDSTARS HAVE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THERE EGR PORTS(IN THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD) PLUGGING UP WITH CARBON -IF YOU REMOVE THE UPPER PLENUM(UPPER INTAKE USUALLY BLACK PLASTIC HOUSING ON ENGINE)YOU CAN CLEAN THE PORTS OUT WITH A SMALL PICK-THIS PROBLEM WILL CAUSE A MISSFIRE CODE EVERYTIME Answer
I have a 98 Windstar and about two years ago the check engine light turned on. I asked my neighbor, who is a mechanic for a local Ford dealership, about it. He said that a Ford mechanic is the only one who can "turn it off". They have a computer that they plug into the engine and tells you what is wrong. Then they are the only ones whe have a code that turns the light off. In my case it was cracked 3" long rubber air tube.
We had the same problem with our '96 Windstar. #4 & 5 cylinders came up in the computer as being bad. New plugs & wires helped #4, but #5 was still showing bad. Turns out, even though the injector code did not show up, 2 of the injectors were bad. This took care of the light problem. We did NOT have to go to a Ford dealer in order to get the light to go out... your regular mechanic should have diagnotic tools and be able to "flush" your computer's memory of the bad codes. Answer
I have the same problem on my 96 windstar with > 100000 miles. This is apparently a common problem with high mileage windstars (3.8L) and assuming sparks, fuel, injectors, o2 sensors etc. check out OK, it is caused by the build up of carbon in the EGR orifices in the lower intake manifold. The problem can be fixed by removing the upper intake manifold and cleaning the carbon deposits from the EGR orifices. The misfire happens because the orifices on ports 2,3,4,5,6 get blocked first (#1 furthest from EGR valve) therefore when the EGR valve opens, most of the recirculated exhaust gases go to #1 cylinder weakening the mixture excessively resulting in misfiring.
-- I had the same problem on my 96 Windstar @ about 100k miles and received the same diagnosis of carbon buildup on the intake manifold. We removed the manifold for thorough cleaning and discovered a blown manifold gasket at the #1 cylider.
i had the same problem with my van, I took it to the dealer and they checked it out as being the coil going bad. so far so good with it. Answer
did you disconnect the neg battery termanl to reset your CPU & if so do you still have the miss it could be a coil or wire Answer
I had the same problem on my 1996 Windstar and found that the #2 fuel injector was bad Answer
The plug, wire or coil could be the problem.
Usually if the injector is failing you will get different codes.
I just replaced plugs and wires from a 2002 and they were in very bad condition. The van had 90,000 or so miles on it. When these were changed it ran like a new van.
The back three plugs were just awesome. (sarcastic) That is another issue though. Good luck.
See "Related Questions" below Answer
It sounds like you have jumped time.If it is bad you risk bending your valves and messing up your heads.................stop trying to start it.Get the timing checked out
What could cause the engine light to stay on in a 1991 Acura Legend?
Check your gas cap. My light would come on whenever the cap wasn't tightly on. Turn it until it clicks three times. You may also need a new cap if the seal around the cap is bad.
Is there anything you can use to make your check engine light go off to pass inspection?
Try disconnecting battery for about 10 mins. to see if codes re-set if not: Have vehicle scanned to determine the problem and have codes cleared when problem is fixed
Where is the location of the secondary air injection on a 2004 trailblazer?
Its under the car right under the drivers seat.
how do we fix/replace/repair it
How do you check the check engine light on a 1989 cadillac sedan deville?
From the climate control system, which acts as the diagnostic computer. Press and hold the off and warm buttons together. You will see the system 888 then 7.0 then the active codes will start to show. Write them down. You can google amost any code you find. To clear all the codes, press and hold the off and high buttons together.
Will it harm your engine to drive with the check engine light on?
My answer really won't help. Sometimes it can harm the vehicle sometimes not. If perhaps the calalytic ccnverter is plugged, yes it can damage the engine. Usually if the car performs as normal,
no real damage will occur.
What causes service engine soon light to start flashing on a 2003 Ford Expedition?
An ignition system misfire has been detected - avoid any quick acceleration or decelleration until the problem has been repaired to avoid damaging the catalytic converter (s)
Try first with Trans-X, transmission additive before go to shop major repairs
How to pass inspection with a check engine light on in a 2001 dodge neon?
You will need to get the cause of the check engine light repaired.
Does check engine light need to be on for codes to be read?
No, most any vehicle made since the mid 90's will store a code in memory for at least 100 starts.
Snow got into the tail pipe. As soon as it melts the light will go away :)
What cause a 2001 Nissan sunny engine check light to stay on?
my car had that problem when i washed the engine with water, check the sparking plugs, they might be wet, keep it dry and it will be ok .
How do you reset check engine light 2000 silverado?
That requires an OBDII engine scanner to clear the codes / turn light off. But if you have not FIXED the problem that made it come on then it will just come on again. Have engine scanned.
How do you fix an engine that misfires?
Misfire
Faulty: spark plug, spark plug wire, ignition coil, ignition module, fuel injector are the
most common. Coolant leaking into a cylinder is another.
Internal engine problems such as burnt valve, broken valve spring, bent push rod, worn
rings
What O2 sensor is related to check engine code P2626 on a 2006 kia Spectra?
Bank 1 sens. 1 its located on the exhaust manifold.Easy to get to...
What does the service engine soon light mean on a saturn?
It means that the engine computer has detected an emissions related failure.
Is the catalytic converter and the sensor behind it covered under warrant?
Depends on your mileage. It is normally covered for 8 years or 80,000 miles.
Why does engine light come on when you slow down?
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 a parts store 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 (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 a parts store 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.
How do you reset the check engine light on a 1996 Monte Carlo Z34?
If you disconnect your battery for 10-30 minutes (cannot remember) it will -clear- the computer...but not reset it.
Afterwards, drive approximately 75 miles. That seems to be the consensus I get from people who also work on their own cars. That'll reset the computer and, after a repair, the new codes will let you know what you broke and what else was broken =D
Why is the check engine light on in a Volvo 850?
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 parts store 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.
What causes the check engine light to come on and how to read the trouble codes in a Taurus - Sable?
The check engine light (CEL for short) is triggered when one or more of the many sensors on the vehicle detects a not-normalreading,
There are 2 basic steps to determining the cause of the CEL coming on:
- Have the codes read - many places offer to read the engine codes for free. Autozone even provides a printout of the codes, and a short description of common causes
- Research those codes! Find out the true cause and reason for the not-normal reading. It is not often that the sensor itself is bad and requires replacing.
There are countless sources of information on engine DTC (diagnostic trouble codes) on the internet - including WikiAnswers!
Real-life examples:
- DTC code P0402 on 98 Tracer - replaced the EGR valve, light came back. Made my daughter live with it for 2 years. Yesterday I had a few minutes while waiting for the oil to drain and poked around the engine - found a small 2" piece of rubber hose that had softened and collapsed right where the PCV connects. A free piece of hose from Autozone and the light cleared after a few drive cycles!
- Major auto parts chain told me my TSP (Throttle position sensor) was bad due to the CEL being lit up (might have been a P1120 DTC). $40 and 10 minutes to replace - ((_#*&$ light came right back. A few days ago, after doing some reading, I bought a $4 can of throttle body spray cleaner - used 1/2 the can on my 98 Sable - voila! CEL is gone again!
Pay attention to those check engine lights - they're there for a reason. And with the internet today, you can readily find the information to keep your car healthy, and even save some $$ in the process.
(end of editorial rant,... and no more acronyms!)
NOTE:This light has 2 other names it is referred to:- Service Engine Soon - SES
- Malfunction Indicator Lamp - MIL
You need to have it scanned,most of smaller repair shops will do it a reasonable price,and give you the trouble code.
Check engine light staying onYou need to go to a reputable shop and have them test the vehicle. They will use a scan tool to check for codes, then they will have an idea what system is causing the light to come on.Just finding out the code doesn't tell what's wrong, so it may not be worth trying to buy a cheap "code reader". Find a shop you trust and take the vehicle to a professional.
AnswerThe scanner / code readers are very inexpensive now - I've seen them as low as $30. Autozone & Harbor Freight are just 2 places to look.BEWARE - the parts stores are very happy to tell you the DTC code (Diagnostic trouble code), and then encourage you to buy the cited part.
For example, a P0171 or P0174 indicate an oxygen sensor issue - will buying and replacing the O2 sensor FIX the problem? NOT AT ALL LIKELY. Don't just blindly buy the part - been there, done that.
Get the codes read - then research them on the net or talk to a reliable mechanic.
Its the emissions light. On my mercury sable when I get bad gasoline the light tends to go on. Usually if I run the car almost empty and then fill up again it goes out. If not try disconecting the battery.
It could be one, more, or MANY things. That's why it is suggested that you take it to your dealer if it is still under warranty. You can take it to AutoZone and have your "Codes" (what causes the Check Engine Light or "SES" Service engine soon light) read.
It will usually tell you what caused the SES and it should be fairly simple to fix, such as a malfunctioning O2 Sensor.
Some things however can be very complex and it is recommended an AST Certified Mechanic takes a look at the vehicle.
most likely a severe engine misfire. you need to have it checked for codes
AnswerIt simply means that the engines computer is picking up a a problem from one of the sensors on the vehicles All of the sensors work together and feed their information to the Engines Computer (or ECU). The main reason for all of these sensors is to accomplish maximun fuel economy while buring as clean as possible thus keeping pollution and emissions to a minimal. AnswerThe light is on because the computer has detected a problem with the emissions system. This may be nothing more than a loose gas cap, or as serious as a bad catalytic converter. Have the computer scanned for fault codes. This will help to find the problem. After the problem is corrected the light can be reset with an OBD2 scan tool. AnswerPull the codes from the computer, match the code to the troubleshooting procedure, follow the procedure to find the source. Repair the source, light will go out if that was the only problem. There are "monitors" or self test the computer runs the car through, if a problem occurs, it may not run all of the self tests until that problem is taken care. Therefore, another problem may exist. It is emission related. See "Related Questions" below for moreAnswerOpen and read your owner's manual. There you will find the answer to your question. But I will tell you. The computer has detected a fault with the emissions system.
AnswerPull the codes from the computer, match the code to the troubleshooting procedure, follow the procedure to find the source. Repair the source, light will go out if that was the only problem. There are "monitors" or self tests the computer runs the car through a drive cycle, if a problem occurs, it may not run all of the self tests until that problem is taken care. Therefore, another problem may exist. It is emission related. OR hook up a scanner that is capable of clearing codes, and hope that none are still active.
The " check engine light" is by far one of the most misunderstood technological advances by the public. I am sure I will revise this as time goes on, as it is an in-depth understanding for the public. It is a warning light that is illuminated when there is a problem with the EMISSION SYSTEM only. Emission system being the pollution control system. Don't get a hard on against it as it is a good thing once you understand it. One point that was brought up a a recent meeting of technicians was that the amount of hydrocarbons is greater when the gas cap is left off than when the engine is running. Hydrocarbons are part of pollution emitted as gasoline evaporates. Going a step farther, one facet of the emission system is the "Evaporative" portion. This is when the fumes from the gasoline are leaking from the system into the outside air. This is one part of the emission system that can trigger a check engine light. I would say that about 7% of the vehicles that have a check engine light are the result of a loose or inadequate gas cap. But understand that many scenarios are possible with the "check engine light" The vehicle's powertrain computer (note that some vehicles have 17 different computers) will run a series of self-tests. They will only run under certain criteria. And they can be vastly different from manufacturer to manufacturer. Some self-tests are not run until preceding ones have run successfully. So if there is a problem in one particular area that is preventing another self test from running, you can have a situation where one problem is fixed, but another still exists. If you fix a problem and drive the car through a drive cycle that sets the monitor (or self test) the light will go off as it passes that criteria that triggered it in the first place. After 1996, the auto industry went to a idea called OBD II (on board diagnostics). This was to get all the manufacturers onto a similar plane for troubleshooting and powertrain control. While they still differ vastly, many corrections and adaptations were made for technicians to better fix the check engine light problems. Prior to this there were so many different and poor troubleshooting data from a check engine light problem that resolving the problem was much more difficult. Many early warning light of this nature were set to illuminate based on mileage. An Oxygen sensor was one of the things that were meant to be replaced when that mileage was hit. This is much like many current "Change oil lights� that are set based on a pre-set mileage.
AnswerIt will be impossible to give you any better than a broad answer here, because there are literally hundreds of possibilities as to why a check engine light(CEL) comes on. The system would have to be scanned to retrieve whatever fail codes there are. Then we would use a manual (that is literally 3 inches thick)that contains flow charts with pinpoint tests, using a voltmeter, to hand diagnose, and find out what is wrong. This process can take a few minutes, it may take a couple of hours, depending on what is actually wrong.Now here is the "why" of a CEL: What is actually turning on the CEL is the Powertrain Control Module(PCM), commonly known as the engine control computer. Inside of a PCM there are actually two separate systems. One is control, the other system is diagnostics. PCM diagnostics acts as "big brother," constantly looking over the shoulder of the control side of the PCM. Diagnostics is constantly monitering systems to see if the expected voltages and values are present. For example: If the PCM diagnostics knows that it has been so many minutes since the engine was first started, then the engine temperature should be around 195 degrees. In our senerio, if the engine is still 160 degrees, it sees a problem, and sets the CEL. The technician has to use pinpoint diagnostics to see if we have a stuck thermostat, if the Engine Coolant Temp(ECT) sensor if sending a false signal, if the wiring between the ECT and the PCM is bad, or if the PCM is faulty and interpreting the signal received from the ECT incorrectly. But the PCM is not capable of monitering everything all at once, so it basically goes down a checklist, over and over again, as you are driving down the road. Sometimes a problem can come and go intermittantly, at the right times so as to avoid detection by the PCM. That is why sometimes a CEL doesn't always come on everytime there is a problem. Sometimes you can unplug a sensor even while the car is running, and it takes a while for the CEL to come on, just because the PCM diagnostics hasen't gotten back around to looking at that area yet.
Our senerio only talked about one area that a PCM moniters. There are dozens of sub-systems that the PCM looks at, and dozens of possible failures within each of those sub-systems, that could cause a CEL.
Most often the cause of this light staying on is a bad EGR valve or a bad O2 sensor.
Y-THINK-Y
Answeryou might want to check your gas cap if it is loose it can trigger your check engine lightYour Audi check engine light is flashing is it ok to drive?
I would not drive it very far at all if possible. This is likely a failed coil, causing misfiring and your unburnt fuel will be dealt with by the catalytic converter. That Cat will eventually fail if you continue to drive it. So run the car into your nearest dealer and have them run a computer check on it. The replacement cost for a coil is around $40... a lot cheaper than a catalytic converter...
How to reset the check light on your Honda CR-V 2004?
This is a 2004 Honda, that is still under warranty. Take it back to the dealer!
If you will check your owners manuel it will tell you how to rset the 10,000 mile check engine light.
How do you reset the service engine light on a 1997 Pontiac Trans Am?
disconect battery replace item that the SES is telling u to replace use an OBDII tool and reset that way
