Check Engine light just came on.
#1
Check Engine light just came on.
Ok so my wife called to tell me that her check engine light just came on. She is driving a 2000 GLE and it has a bit over 39,300 miles on it. She says it is running fine. Is there an Auto CEL when you get close to 40k for service by chance?
Sorry if this is a repost but the search doesn't work so....
Sorry if this is a repost but the search doesn't work so....
#3
Check to make sure the gas cap on tight. The gas tank is pressurised for better fuel economy and emissions control. I would take the cap off then put it back on making sure it is fitted properly. The check engine light will eventually go out after 4 or 5 start - stops.
#4
a few honda products do that to let you know when oil changes should be coming up and so forth but nissan does not do that. you will have to get the codes pulled from an OBD2 reader and see what they pertain to. if you have an autozone nearby, they do this service for free regardless of whether you buy from them or not.
#5
Originally Posted by jkayca
Check to make sure the gas cap on tight. The gas tank is pressurised for better fuel economy and emissions control. I would take the cap off then put it back on making sure it is fitted properly. The check engine light will eventually go out after 4 or 5 start - stops.
Thats not necessarily true. If there is a more serious problem or if a sensor is messed up, then it will not just go away after a few starts.
#6
Thanks for the responses. I had already told her to do the gas cap thing and I don't think she has given it enough time as she has a fairly short drive to work.
For whatever reason our Autozone doesn't pull codes for free anymore.
She called the dealer which I think is a terrible idea, I just told her to call them back and ask what they are going to charge her to plug it in. I know the VW dealership charges like $65 for the 5 min it takes, what a bunch of poo.
Should I just go buy an OBDII reader? What do they cost these days?
For whatever reason our Autozone doesn't pull codes for free anymore.
She called the dealer which I think is a terrible idea, I just told her to call them back and ask what they are going to charge her to plug it in. I know the VW dealership charges like $65 for the 5 min it takes, what a bunch of poo.
Should I just go buy an OBDII reader? What do they cost these days?
#8
Originally Posted by MY2000MAX
Thats not necessarily true. If there is a more serious problem or if a sensor is messed up, then it will not just go away after a few starts.
#9
Well the local dealer wanted $75. She canceled her appointment and I told her to call PepBoys which is right down the road from our house, I figure they can pull codes with an OBDII as well as anyone and they only want $20. Will find out later what the issue is. My guess is that the CEL goes off before she gets there.
#11
$20 bucks is cheap to have the codes pulled. obviously if autozone still did it, then it would be the way to go but dealers and even small shops charge more than 3 times that. i just bought software and a box from harrison R&D and pull the codes with my old laptop from college.
#14
A broken gas cap tether made my light come on. what a joke.
Originally Posted by MY2000MAX
Thats not necessarily true. If there is a more serious problem or if a sensor is messed up, then it will not just go away after a few starts.
#15
Originally Posted by 4drGTI
Ok So new info. PepBoys just called and the code failure was "Cat Efficiency" What the heck does that mean?
#17
call the dealer and make an appointment. they will use the consult 2 to reprogram the ecu under a federally mandated emissions warranty. this should and normally does cure that code in itself, however some had to replace the main cat as well. this should be covered 8yr./80k miles as mandated by the government. edit- click HERE for a copy of the technical service bulletin if you want to bring it in with you.
#18
Sloppymax - wow thanks a lot. So what is the deal with the govt 8/80? We bought this car as a certified Nissan from a Nissan dealer and are the second owners.
Thanks a bunch.
Edit: Well I just read that TSB and it appears to only be for CA emissions cars. What are the chances my car which was originally sold in PA and has always been here to have CA emissions?
Thanks a bunch.
Edit: Well I just read that TSB and it appears to only be for CA emissions cars. What are the chances my car which was originally sold in PA and has always been here to have CA emissions?
#19
lots of 2ks are CA emissions and all 2k1 are cali spec. just because you are on the opposite coast like myself, it is a likely chance. you can either call nissan to run the VIN to see if its cali spec or there are a few physical ways. if you look to the right of the manifold, there is a small box with either 2 vaccum lines or one. if you have 2 then you are cali. if you can look under the car, cali spec cars have no o2 sensors behind the main cat.
#20
also, if you look on the underside of the hood there is a sticker that should say whether it is california emissions legal or not. The CA also has 4 sensor plugs on the front edge of the valve cover as opposed to two in the fed-spec. Might just be easier to read the sticker though...
#22
Well I just checked the sticker and the car is in fact a CA emissions car. Time to call the stealer. So now the question is can someone point me to this 8 year / 80k mile govt mandate? I can't just go in there saying I saw it on the web.
#23
Originally Posted by 4drGTI
Well I just checked the sticker and the car is in fact a CA emissions car. Time to call the stealer. So now the question is can someone point me to this 8 year / 80k mile govt mandate? I can't just go in there saying I saw it on the web.
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