ECU throwing code but CEL doesn't come on
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 45
ECU throwing code but CEL doesn't come on
My friend's '98 GXE is throwing up 0205 (Idle Speed Control), however the CEL doesn't come on while driving:
Prior to buying the car two weeks ago, we went to check it out and noticed the CEL was on, so I extracted the code (0205) and told the guy who was selling about the problem (he's a mechanic as well, so said he would fix it before making things final). When we came back to take the car the CEL was no longer on, so we assumed it was all good. My friend expressed some concern over performance so we checked the ECU (despite the CEL being off) and still got 0205. I would think it would give back 0505 if the CEL wasn't on, so what does all this mean?
Prior to buying the car two weeks ago, we went to check it out and noticed the CEL was on, so I extracted the code (0205) and told the guy who was selling about the problem (he's a mechanic as well, so said he would fix it before making things final). When we came back to take the car the CEL was no longer on, so we assumed it was all good. My friend expressed some concern over performance so we checked the ECU (despite the CEL being off) and still got 0205. I would think it would give back 0505 if the CEL wasn't on, so what does all this mean?
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,035
From: Fort Collins, Colorado
Re: ECU throwing code but CEL doesn't come on
Originally posted by synix
My friend's '98 GXE is throwing up 0205 (Idle Speed Control), however the CEL doesn't come on while driving:
Prior to buying the car two weeks ago, we went to check it out and noticed the CEL was on, so I extracted the code (0205) and told the guy who was selling about the problem (he's a mechanic as well, so said he would fix it before making things final). When we came back to take the car the CEL was no longer on, so we assumed it was all good. My friend expressed some concern over performance so we checked the ECU (despite the CEL being off) and still got 0205. I would think it would give back 0505 if the CEL wasn't on, so what does all this mean?
My friend's '98 GXE is throwing up 0205 (Idle Speed Control), however the CEL doesn't come on while driving:
Prior to buying the car two weeks ago, we went to check it out and noticed the CEL was on, so I extracted the code (0205) and told the guy who was selling about the problem (he's a mechanic as well, so said he would fix it before making things final). When we came back to take the car the CEL was no longer on, so we assumed it was all good. My friend expressed some concern over performance so we checked the ECU (despite the CEL being off) and still got 0205. I would think it would give back 0505 if the CEL wasn't on, so what does all this mean?
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Member
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 45
Re: Re: ECU throwing code but CEL doesn't come on
Originally posted by turbo97SE
Not all codes trigger the CEL. I am not sure about 0205, but I know 0304 is one of those. It seems kind of bone headed that some do and some don't. 0205 is a problem, there seems to be some problem with idle speed control
Not all codes trigger the CEL. I am not sure about 0205, but I know 0304 is one of those. It seems kind of bone headed that some do and some don't. 0205 is a problem, there seems to be some problem with idle speed control
CEL is on, ECU throwing 0205
Mechanic/seller supposedly fixes problem
CEL is off, ECU still throwing 0205
Basically, did he fix it or just mess with the CEL/ECU to somehow keep the ECU and CEL bulb intact but disable it from lighting up (while driving)?
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 4,154
Re: Re: Re: ECU throwing code but CEL doesn't come on
Originally posted by synix
But the thing is that prior to buying the car, the CEL was on and was only throwing that code (0205). The mechanic/seller supposedly fixed it because the CEL was off when my friend purchased the car:
CEL is on, ECU throwing 0205
Mechanic/seller supposedly fixes problem
CEL is off, ECU still throwing 0205
Basically, did he fix it or just mess with the CEL/ECU to somehow keep the ECU and CEL bulb intact but disable it from lighting up (while driving)?
But the thing is that prior to buying the car, the CEL was on and was only throwing that code (0205). The mechanic/seller supposedly fixed it because the CEL was off when my friend purchased the car:
CEL is on, ECU throwing 0205
Mechanic/seller supposedly fixes problem
CEL is off, ECU still throwing 0205
Basically, did he fix it or just mess with the CEL/ECU to somehow keep the ECU and CEL bulb intact but disable it from lighting up (while driving)?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 45
Thanks for all your input so far, guys.
Yesterday I checked the ECU again and got the code, then drove his car to see how it felt, while driving I noticed the CEL was flashing on and off in NO PARTICULAR PATTERN what-so-ever. I showed this to my friend and he said he'd never seen it do that. I then reset the ECU and it drove much better, I'm guessing the car sets up some kind of acceleration limiter when it detects the code?
Anyway, I haven't spoken to my friend about it since then, so I don't know if it came back on or not...
Yesterday I checked the ECU again and got the code, then drove his car to see how it felt, while driving I noticed the CEL was flashing on and off in NO PARTICULAR PATTERN what-so-ever. I showed this to my friend and he said he'd never seen it do that. I then reset the ECU and it drove much better, I'm guessing the car sets up some kind of acceleration limiter when it detects the code?
Anyway, I haven't spoken to my friend about it since then, so I don't know if it came back on or not...
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