what can make this happen?
2006-08-30 15:50:55 · 6 answers · asked by jimmychano74 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
SKOOBA has it right.
This light is the car's only way of telling you that the PCM (the car's powertrain management computer) has identified a problem. It cannot talk to you, so this light has to do.
When the PCM illuminates this light, there is one or more diagnostic trouble code(s) stored in its library. It takes a code reader or scanner tool to extract the codes.
There are several systems monitored by the PCM, and if any one of them is found to have a fault that will cause an increase in emissions, the light will come on.
It could be as simple as a loose fuel cap, or as complex as a cam and crank sensor out of sync. Oxygen sensors can trigger a fault.
You can either take your car to a REPUTABLE repair facility for diagnosis and repair, or you can find a buddy that can pull the codes, or go to Autozone, or some other parts store and gather the codes and then proceed to repair it yourself.
WARNING----> The codes identify a failure in a circuit, NOT necessarily a component.
So, if you get a code P0171 ("System too Lean, Bank 1") there MAY be an oxygen sensor failure. BUT it could also be a failing fuel pump, a restricted fuel filter, a fuel pressure regulator out of range, or even a MAF sensor slightly out of factory calibration.
It is very important that you follow the correct diagnostic strategy or you can spend a lot of your money, and still not repair the car.
Good Luck
2006-08-30 16:48:51 · answer #1 · answered by Ironhand 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your car is telling you its time to change oil, The light has to be reset and it will go out until whatever the millage on computer is set for and turns it back on. Alto of times you'll need a scanner to reset light, but sometimes there's a hole in speedometer the size of a paper clip to push. Do a search for reset service engine light alero, good luck
2006-08-30 23:04:33 · answer #2 · answered by unclejohn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be a number of things.If you have an auto zone close by take it to them and they will put a code reader on it and that will tell you whats wrong and they dont charge you for this service
2006-08-30 22:59:26 · answer #3 · answered by skooba71 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
car manufactures install these for longer life of your vehicle,
it is designed to come on after a certain amount of mileage has been put on the car, you take it in they charge a fortune to fix it, it usually consists of pushing in a button behind the speedometer it is a reset button. a way for them to make money basiclly, go to the library get book on it find reset button.
2006-08-30 23:08:17 · answer #4 · answered by daryld m 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
check your oxygen sensor
2006-08-30 23:00:27 · answer #5 · answered by aldo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sell quick and cut your lossess....
2006-08-31 00:08:17 · answer #6 · answered by matthewbullion 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋