Re: Mystery Behind the 'Check Engine' Light

> The problem with this "check engine light" is that they use it for > everything from > a potential serious problem were driving your car may cause serious damage, > to > a scheduled service, to the gas cap not being on tight. The problem is that > you don't > know what it is and the dealer charges 60-80 dollars to tell you what it is > and reset the light!. How hard could it be to provide the code, or at least > a different > light for maintenance, non serious and serious problems.

The MIL (Malfunction Indicator Light) is not used as a service reminder. YOu may have a second light for this. If the MIL comes on steady, it is a non-critical problem that requires attention "soon." If the light flashes, the problem is critical and needs immeadiate attention. Driving the car with a flashing MIL can lead to further damage.

See

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Regards,

Ed White

Reply to
C. E. White
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Don't most cars have some sort of code that you can coax out by proper button-pushing and then look up in a book?

I lost faith in idiot lights when one came on a full 30 seconds after I saw the steam and the engine shut down.

Reply to
The Real Bev

Um, that's incorrect, BMW's do it for a service reminder, and my fathers honda did it at 90k miles.. it was discovered on reading the owners manual, it does this at 90k miles for some important maintenence stage.

Reply to
Marke DB Johnston

Not exactly. Pre OBD2 GM vehicles would reveal their trouble codes by jumpering two terminals in the diagnostic connector.

Pre OBD2 Ford vehicles were similar as far as jumpering a connector, but the procedure is/was slightly more complicated and on earlier versions, you needed to connect your own bulb or voltmeter into the circuit to see the codes displayed (flashes or meter needle sweeps) Pre OBD2 Chrysler vehicles would reveal their codes merely by cycling the ignition to on three times with-in five seconds, Chrysler OBD2 vehicles -may- reveal codes via this method (depends on exact model year) but they'll only give an abbreviated version of all possible trouble codes. per OBD2 Imports can be anything from jumpering to sliding a rocker switch to needing the factory diagnostic tool.

While there are/may be exceptions (see Chrysler) OBD2 vehicles are best considered done with a scan tool.

Happens...

Reply to
Neil Nelson

I am surprised that the US has laws requiring manufacturers to sell diagnostic equipment to third party maintenance organizations and that Canada doesn't. Will wonders never cease.

Ed

Reply to
C. E. White

The U.S. has laws, but compliance for aftermarket availability needs to be better.

Reply to
Neil Nelson

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