Service Engine Soon light
#1
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Service Engine Soon light
I have a 1996 LT1 coupe with approx. 41,000 miles on it and the "Service Engine Soon" light just came on. Typically what does this mean? Am I in for a huge repair bill or is it usually something minor? The car still runs fine but my manual says that I could do serious damage to the emissions system if I don't have it looked at fairly soon. Any thoughts?
#2
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Re: Service Engine Soon light (1996Z15)
youll have to hook up a scanner to your computer and pull the codes to find out exactly what is wrong with it. What were you doing when the code came up?
#3
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Re: Service Engine Soon light (1996Z15)
Nothing, I got in the car in the morning and the light came on. The mechanic that I take my other cars to said that it could be a water pump that is leaking and got the Optispark wet which then sent a code to the computer.
#4
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Re: Service Engine Soon light (1996Z15)
Did you notice any drivability problems when the light came on? There are only 283,582 things that can set that light.... :crazy: On my '92, I get the light if I drive light throttle in 6th for at least 15 minutes (returns an EGR code :U ). I thing the '96 went with the ODBII connector, so I don't know off hand how top pull codes out, but I'm sure someone here does. By the way, in the '96, the optispark was upgraded with 'proper' venting, so I wouldn't get too paranoind about it yet.
#5
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Re: Service Engine Soon light (1996Z15)
no offense but it sounds like your mechanic doesnt know what he's talking about. If your water pump went and puked on your opti then your car wouldnt start at all, even with the venting you still should never get it wet. If it got wet enough to throw a code then it wouldnt start the car. Youll just have to hook a computer up to it and pull the codes.
#6
Drifting
Re: Service Engine Soon light (1996Z15)
Before you go trying to think of what it could be just go were you can have someone read the code there are just to manythings it could be and it may not mean a big bill you could have a clogged or restricted air inject check valve or one of many other things just get the code and post it here and then we can know what we are dealing with.
David Fulcher
David Fulcher
#7
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Re: Service Engine Soon light (1996Z15)
Now listen to this... I drove the car in to work this morning, light is still on. So I make an appointment to have it looked at where I bought the car. Then when I get in the car to go home from work the light is off and has been since then. Is my car posessed or what? :confused:
#8
Re: Service Engine Soon light (1996Z15)
It could be that you don't have the gas cap on tight enough or you may need to replace the gas cap (for $5) from your Chevy dealer. The code will clear by itself after 3 run cycles without the problem reoccuring so it is not necessarily weird that your problem went away. FrankLT4CE
#9
Burning Brakes
Re: Service Engine Soon light (1996Z15)
My Ruby threw the same warning a few weeks
back and it turned out to be an O2 sensor on the
right cat. The actual code was 63 if I remember
correctly... :seeya
back and it turned out to be an O2 sensor on the
right cat. The actual code was 63 if I remember
correctly... :seeya
#10
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Re: Service Engine Soon light (2HIP4U)
yeah my code 32 cleared itself, because i checked tonight and there arent any codes. You just have to pull your code, the SES light wont stay on all the time
#11
Race Director
Re: Service Engine Soon light (1996Z15)
Normally its a code related to an emissions control component, ie O2 sensor. Take it to a dealer and let them run it for codes.
Nothing to worry about! :)
[Modified by eamador11, 10:25 PM 12/18/2001]
Nothing to worry about! :)
[Modified by eamador11, 10:25 PM 12/18/2001]
#12
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Re: Service Engine Soon light (1996Z15)
Thanks for everyone's input, I have an appointment tomorrow and I'll keep everyone posted.
#13
Melting Slicks
Re: Service Engine Soon light (1996Z15)
One other thing you can do is clear the code by un-bolting the ground cable to your battery and a couple of minutes later bolt it back to your battery and take it for a spin :D The code might not come back if your lucky!
[Modified by Intimidator454, 3:21 PM 12/19/2001]
[Modified by Intimidator454, 3:22 PM 12/19/2001]
[Modified by Intimidator454, 3:21 PM 12/19/2001]
[Modified by Intimidator454, 3:22 PM 12/19/2001]
#14
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Re: Service Engine Soon light (1996Z15)
OK here's the final outcome. I just picked the car up from the dealership and the cause of the Service Engine light was bad check valves in the emission tubes. I asked what would cause this and was told that rust is the main culprit. The mechanic that worked on the car said that if you take repeated short trips with your car and it never gets a chance to fully warm up, water/condensation can lay in these tubes and over time cause the valves to rust and go bad.
Total cost for the repair was $184.22 :eek:
Total cost for the repair was $184.22 :eek:
#15
Drifting
Re: Service Engine Soon light (1996Z15)
Just as I had thought the only problem is the valve is about $40.00 and takes about 10 minutes to change should have only been about a half hour labor and hour tops. What you would do is use scan tool to read codes then remove check valve then use scan tool to watch O2 sensor readings while you turn the air system off and on the O2 voltage should go real low while the air pump is working and normal when off. This is the easest code to fix it bothers me when I hear of shops taking advantage of people like that I just wish you were able to just find out what code it was I would have been able to tell you just what to change and as long as you had two adjustable wrenches you would have been able to do it yourself. I'm glas to hear you got your car fixed I'm just sorry you paided to much.
David Fulcher
David Fulcher