Service Engine Soon light came on

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Mar 24, 2010 | 01:47 PM
  #1  
Hey everyone,

Troubling to see this light. Some background:

2006 6mt sedan, around 36,000 km

Saturday
~ 12-noon - replaced winter steelies with OEM 18" and summer tires (done at tire shop)
~ 4:30pm - topped up with premium fuel
Gear changes done around 4000 rpm - 4400 rpm consistently while driving

Sunday
~ 9pm - service engine soon light came on while driving on highway around 130km/h
Checked fuel filler cap and re-tightened


Wednesday - light is still on and I don't know what's going on. I'm not really very mechanically inclined so any help is appreciated.

Thanks!
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Mar 24, 2010 | 01:48 PM
  #2  
Go to a place that has readers that can read codes from OBDII and see what it says.

in USA Advance auto parts, pepboys, Autozone have this, I dont know if you guys have them up in canada.
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Mar 24, 2010 | 02:29 PM
  #3  
no way to tell over the computer

you can rent a scanner at autozone for $150, when you take it back you get your money back.

get the code and research online

if basic fixes wont fix it, take it to a shop.

No sense in spending money on parts that may not work.

it may say 02 sensor bank 1 ,etc. but what is causing that fault???

thats the key to reading a code.
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Mar 24, 2010 | 04:02 PM
  #4  
I don't know about the G, but when my gas cap was loose on my Pontiac Grand Prix the check engine light came on. After I tightened it, it was almost a week before the light went out.
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Mar 25, 2010 | 11:04 AM
  #5  
I called the dealer today and they basically said to wait a few more days just in case it is the fuel cap. They said it can take about 30 engine cycles (start-stop) for it to go out.

So will wait and see....
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Mar 25, 2010 | 12:30 PM
  #6  
I'd go rent the scanner.

It can tell you what is wrong, and clear the code for you.

You can buy them fairly cheap too. Under $100 for some models. Most dealers charge $60-90 to do this service.

Amazon Amazon

http://www.google.com/products/catal...wAg#ps-sellers
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Mar 25, 2010 | 12:37 PM
  #7  
a scanner will clear the code, yes

but will it fix a manifold leak after it throws a code that says O2 sensor is not reading correctly?
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Mar 25, 2010 | 12:38 PM
  #8  
I'd get the codes read incase it's something more serious than the gas cap. My check engine light came on a while back, so I got it read for free, and found out that the issue was a failed sensor (my car kept dying on me as well). So I bought the sensor from the dealership and replaced it my self. The problem went away and so did the check engine light.
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Mar 25, 2010 | 12:40 PM
  #9  
Quote: a scanner will clear the code, yes

but will it fix a manifold leak after it throws a code that says O2 sensor is not reading correctly?
If there is still a problem after the code is cleared, the code will come back eventually. I'd rather just get the code read, fix the problem, then wait for the code to go away on its own, which could take up to a week.
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Mar 25, 2010 | 01:48 PM
  #10  
Quote: If there is still a problem after the code is cleared, the code will come back eventually. I'd rather just get the code read, fix the problem
right, thats what im saying, you can clear the code and make the light go off, but the problem is still there.

So you've basically just turned the light off.

I worked in an auto parts store the entire time I went to college and saw people

1. buy a code reader/scanner ~ $150

2. say that the code read O2 sensor. $75-$255 for one.

3. come back and want the o2 sensor after the cat.$75-$255

4. come back and need exhaust manifold gaskets $15

5. come back and wish they would of only spent $15 on gaskets and realize it was a leak causing the sensor to miss read info.
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Mar 25, 2010 | 08:41 PM
  #11  
I didn't mean to imply just clear the code and be done with it. Of course he has to fix it.

Usually when a friend has a check engine light come on, i read the code for them, write it down, clear the code and then tell them to see if it comes back. Usually it does and then that's when i'll start to investigate the issue for them.

But at least knowing what the code is prior can steer you in the right direction. If it's a gas cap, clear it, and see if it comes back. If it's o2 related...well then you'll have other investigating to do.
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Mar 26, 2010 | 01:55 PM
  #12  
Quote: I'd get the codes read incase it's something more serious than the gas cap. My check engine light came on a while back, so I got it read for free, and found out that the issue was a failed sensor (my car kept dying on me as well). So I bought the sensor from the dealership and replaced it my self. The problem went away and so did the check engine light.

how much was the sensor? i just went to a shop this morning and they read my code for free and said the sensor is bad, and said 300 bucks for one.. i was like WTF!!!
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Mar 26, 2010 | 06:38 PM
  #13  
which sensor? There are quite a few
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Mar 29, 2010 | 10:04 AM
  #14  
Well the light went off on Sunday. So probably was the fuel filler cap....
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