Nine7Max

Ok.. My check engine light came on, the other day after an oil change, I took my car back to the place and they checked all my fluids stating all of them where full.. Now can the check engine light come on for low fluids? I know my washer fluid is low, but check this pic. Theres a COLDMAX and a COLD MIN line at the top about an inch apart, and the fluid is faar below them both, could this trigger the light? And it looks to me like its low, why'd the mechanic say everything was fine?
<img src=http://www.geocities.com/maxedout97/P0000634.JPG>

Nine7Max

http://www.geocities.com/maxedout97/P0000633.JPG

greggmax

I'm certainly no mechanic, but to have a 'check engine' light triggered by low windshield washer fluid seems like major overkill. I think I remember hearing about this before. why don't you try a search on this question?

ereet

I'm certainly the farthest thing from a mechanic, but that doesn't look like the washer fluid container to me. (my friends power steering went out a few weeks back and it looked like that. And the washer fluid container don't have a 'minimum' on it..)

I think that's your power steering fluid, or some other more 'vital' section. Check the manual and fill it to where it's suppose to be with whatever it's suppose to take.. (We used ATF when we did that).. If it doesn't go away after that you might have booboo'd something. Hope you figure it out.

The_quorum

That's your power steering resevoir.
I've completely removed it (detached from the hoses) and cleaned it out before because my daugther dropped a screw into the thing, and it got lodged deep inside past the deflector that's in there.
When I had it removed, there were no sensors or anything that I remmeber seeing that could trip your check engine light. Maybe something else then? Good luck.

Nine7Max

I know that isnt the washer fluid I filled my washer fluid earlier, but I don't know what fluid that is there and want to know if i need to add anything, and what i need to add. Before i ruin anything

Nine7Max

well its the steering fluid? Should I be adding to it? And why does the steering fluid have HOT and COLD minimum and maximum written on it?

The_quorum

it's also the same thing as ATF but w/ out the red color.
I'm using synthetic PS fluid.

greggmax

LOL-I told you I was no mechanic. I can't even tell the power steering fluid res from the windshield washer resevoir. The only thing I know about cars is where the gas pedal is. BTW- if anyone needs any work done on their car for cheap, give me a call.

DFWmax

nine7max, i think the "check engine" light is used to signal that there is something wrong with your car's emmisions system.. the light is supposed to be one of those obd-I and obd-II systems thingy.

i remember my parents' gm cars would have the "check engine" light come on because the o2 sensor went bad. the o2 sensor is a common thing that can go bad and cause that light to come on. are you noticing ay bad gas mileage? the o2 sensor regulates whether the engine is too rich or too lean - when it fails, the gas mileage usually goes down...

low fluids wouldnt cause the check engine light to come on. the critical fluids have their own lights (oil, coolant).

mzmtg

iTrader: (11)

The only way to be sure what is causing the Check Engine light is to get the code. Search the forums or read the FAQ on how to do this. Speculating is only wasting time, especially since getting the code only takes about 5 minutes.