My ses light had been coming on for about the last year. Every time I would have it diagnosed, the catalytic converter and oxygen sensors would come up. I have had them both changed three times. I went to Autozone and had them erase the trouble code. The light went off, but then came back on the same day. It then went off again the next day. The light had been off ever since until I got my oil changed yesterday. It came on during my ride home. What could the problem be, and how could I reset the light?
2007-04-28 05:46:00 · 6 answers · asked by jainacena 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
(Check Engine Light)
There are many components that work together in the engine to maintain optimal engine performance and economy.
A service engine soon, or check engine light indicates that there is a sensor that is reading a condition that is "out of range".
Simply resetting the light does not solve the initial cause of the problem.
Replacing a number of parts trying to troubleshoot the problem in the hopes of getting the light to stay off is a tremendous waste of time and money.
The simplest, and most economical way to alleviate your issue, is to have an engine diagnostic done by a reputable shop to determine what caused the computer to signal you to begin with. Just reading the computer codes may not find the "cause".
That being said, if per-chance you feel the need to reset the light in the hopes that it was a "glitch" of some kind, you could disconnect the negative battery terminal for a couple of minutes to clear the check engine light.
O2 Sensor? Probably NOT the problem.
People like to blame the O2 sensor for the problem because that's where the computer fault appears.
However, nine times out of ten, it's not faulty. It is simply reading a condition in the engine that is causing it to send a signal to the computer that there is a fault in the exhaust emissions mixture.
A fouled spark plug, loose spark plug wire, a vacuum leak, dirty injectors, EGR valve, weak fuel pump, dirty fuel filter, weak ignition coil, plugged air filter, on and on, can all cause the O2 sensor to register a fault code.
Before you yank the O2 sensor and replace it, check the basics first. Otherwise, you could have wasted time and money on the result, not the cause.
2007-04-28 05:53:20 · answer #1 · answered by Mr. KnowItAll 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why don't you just fix the problem so it never comes back on instead of jumping through hoops. The service engine soon light is on because there's a problem. Yes, it's true you have to drive after clearing codes so all the systems can run there self tests. If each test passes, it switch's from 'not-ready' to 'ready'. If there still on 'not-ready' it will fail even if there's no codes and the light is off. If it fails the self test it will just set a code and turn the light on again which is what is just going to happen since you haven't fixed anything. For $50 you can buy a code reader that will read and clear codes and shows if the readiness monitors have reset to "ready" after clearing codes or disconnecting the battery and you'd know if it would pass or not before the test center even test's it. The code reader will work on any car sold in America from 1996 to the present! Why everyone doesn't own one baffles me!! FYI, the evaporative monitor won't even think of running it's self test after clearing the codes if the gas tank is over 3/4 full or less than 1/4 full. It has to be in between. FYI, Ford monitors reset pretty quick.
2016-05-20 23:30:52 · answer #2 · answered by audrey 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mr. Know is correct. Something else is causing the O2 sensors and catalytic converters to fail, and you are not searching for the problem. Mr. Know listed many possible causes. Before you replace a catalytic converter that failed prematurely, you need to find out what caused it to fail, and fix that problem first. Otherwise, you're going to keep having problems - failing sensors and converters.
2007-04-28 06:03:24 · answer #3 · answered by Spee 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would probably go to the dealer catalytic converters are under warranty...um also you can simply disconect your battery for a couple minutes. i would actually go to a different mechanic to diagnose.
2007-04-28 05:56:57 · answer #4 · answered by henrysol 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The dealership or Jiffy Lube has to reset it after you get it serviced.
2007-04-28 05:51:09 · answer #5 · answered by 72OldsCutty 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
more than likely the problem will never cease...my advice to u is disconnect the fuse connecting that sensor
2007-04-28 05:56:11 · answer #6 · answered by Fortress of Ice 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋