I had a CEL for about 3 months now and it just magically disappeared on its own today. The only difference I made was that I recently have been using premium gas again (back up from regular). Is this possible? Or could there still be a ghost CEL? I didn't do a reset or anything.

 

Yes it can go away, but that does not mean it will not reappear.

Did you ever get it checked for a code? Based on your post it sounds like an O2 sensor that is borderline.

 

the bulb could have died


the ECU wouldnt re-read codes unless you manually cleared them, or unplugged the battery from the car for a couple of hours.

 

mine does that, but i don't worry about it

 

yeah i had a 1008 and 0304...crap i thought i was in the clear.

although i did get it smogged about 2 months ago..and the guy didn't say anything about the CEL? maybe its the opposite of a ghost CEL? faulty light?

 

I'm not quite sure what those codes are, but if you are throwing codes and the CEL light is on it is hardly a faulty light....

Sounds like you have a couple issues going on.

 

It happens...I've had the codes 0455 and 1448 (Evap canister vent control valve) go off and on for about a year. My cel was on all winter, and now its off. Just enjoy the cel not annoying you at the moment.

 

Or the problem reoccurred.

 

Indeed. I've had that happen. Didn't come back either.

 

IVT RH bank Hasn't returned.

 

i tried to force the code to re-show..which they did. I noticed that the CEL start blinking afterwards while i was driving, seemed to be somehow connected to the gas pedal..every time i accelerated, the light would blink..but if i let go, the light stays off.

anyway after i turned my car back on again, the CEL disappeared. dunno what the issue is .. but won't deal w/ it for now since my car passed smog.

thanks guys!

 

misfire?

 

what do you mean?

 

Multi cylinder misfire = flashing MIL.

At this point, I don't think he cares, judging from his last and most recent post.

 

This has happened on my 96 since the day I got it. It's my brothers dd right now. Occasionally it comes on with an oxygen sensor code. Ironically, it usually only happens if he kills it.

 

isn't 0304 knock sensor memory serves me correctly.

 

Yes, 0304 = KS, but; IMO, that is not his problem.

 

I'm pretty sure it works like this: If the light goes out on it's own, it's because the PCM hasn't seen the problem in a few driving cycles. The code will be stored in memory until it's either manually cleared or the battery unhooked, but if the problem hasn't occured in a few driving cycles(can't remember how many) the light will go out.

 

For strict smog certification, do they read the codes that are being thrown? Or just go on what whether there is an obvious problem through check engine light coming on?

 

I know in my s14 that the ECU was set to throw the CEL until you started the car over something like 150 times with the same code. Then it would go off. If you had another 50 or so starts without fixing the problem, it would come back on. Nissan figures that if you haven't figured it out by the time the light goes off.....you get the rest.

 

Mine does this too. P0420, got the reflash a few years ago, now sometimes the light comes on for a few weeks and then goes off.

 

Could be that the bulb went out or that there is an O2 sensor that is going out and coming back. You'll probably see it again if it isn't the bulb.

 

I dont like lights on in the dash.Makes me feel ghetto.

 

In CA they call it "MIL" test which stands for Malfunction Indicator Lamp so I am pretty sure it is just whether the light is on or not.

Birken