A friend of mine is looking at a 96 Maxima, and we're suspicious of the reason why it won't pass emissions. The question:

When the key is in the ignition and/or on the "on" position, shouldn't the check engine light be on and then go away when the engine starts up? My 3rd gen does this as well as all other cars I've been around.

We're concerned it has a code(s) or emissions problems and the CEL light has been disabled. TIA!

 

The vehicle should perform a bulb check upon start up and the CEL will only illuminate temporarilly then go out (if NO faults are stored)!!! The bulb could be burned out or missing. Find a way to pull codes from the ALDL connector to be sure no codes are present!

 

You a GM guy? We don't have an ALDL connector, that's GM specific.

But correct otherwise.

 

I had the same thing, you might have a 'Service Engine Soon' light next to where the CEL would be, and as far as I know, that served the same purpose because it was on when I had codes and it went off when I got rid of them.

Your best bet is to go to Autozone and get your codes checked.

 

No! But most of my training has been through ASE which is based off of a lot of GM terminology. So my terms may differ at times, the end result will be the same!