eh.. This morning i started my car only to notice the engine warning light is now lit. Had the oil changed about 4 or 5 days ago at firestone. 46,900 miles on car. I don't have a manual though, anyone know whats wrong?

 

The Check Engine Light is evidence that something is wrong. That
"something" may be any number of things, some major and some minor. It
might be nothing more than a loose fuel filler cap. The Engine Control
Module (the computer) detected a problem and turned on the Check Engine
Light. At the same time it stored one or more Diagnostic Trouble Codes.
Get someone to do a DTC readout for you. This is not a big deal, does not
require specialized "dealer only" test equipment, and should take less than
an hour. When you know the stored DTCs, you will have a fair idea of what
repairs are needed.

If you like to do your own "wrenching" you can do the DTC readout for
yourself. Go to your public library and borrow a Chilton's or Haynes
manual for your vehicle. It contains detailed instructions and a table
which "translates" the numerical codes into words. No special tools are
required. You will also find instructions to do a DTC readout and reset
the Check Engine light at Steve Cutchen's excellent MaxFAQs page:
http://web2.airmail.net/scutchen/max_faq/

 

I just read about someone else with the same problem back on 12.1.00. Here's the thread:

https://maxima.org/forums/showthread...threadid=11705

It'd take a real good psychic to tell why its on without looking at it. (Its called a MIL, by the way, for Malfuntion Indicator Light)

Even WITH the book you have to go thru a lot of nonsense to get a code from the computer and then look that up in the book. If you pay a shop to do it, you'd find that the cost may compel you to try to do it yourself. (starts at like 85 bucks I think.)

Theres a few more threads here on it. Search for "indicator light" or "MIL".

Jack