The "check engine" light is on in a 2003 Maxima GLE. What could it be?

Answer 1

check your fluids, like the oil and coolant

Answer 2

(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.

Answer 3

Well there could be a number of things to cause the light to come on. One common and easy problem to fix is make sure that your gas cap is tight make sure that it clicks then you know it is sealed check then disconect the battery for 1 minute and see if the light come back on after driving for a few miles if not then that was the issue the car will sense a evaporation leak in the fuel system so check that if not get it scaned at a auto parts store or shop.

Answer 4

What ever it is, it is going to be expensive. I have a '94 Corsica that the light has been coming for the past 6 or 7 years now and nothing has happened, have about 223,500 miles on it, runs good. It is not consistent when it comes on but was coming on only over 40 MPH, maybe in 4 miles maybe in 10 miles. The "check engine light" is only connected to the emission controls.

Answer 5

A lot of times it indicates there is a problem with the emissions control system. The best thing to do is to have it checked out at a parts store or a garage with a diagnostic computer.

Answer 6

This could be any number of things. Take it to your local auto parts store or a reputable mechanic. They have scanners that can tell what code is bringing up that check engine light or "CEL". Could be something as simple as a loose plug on a sensor or low coolant level, but better have it checked to be sure.

Answer 7

take it to AUTOZONE or most other autoparts store and they will check it for FREE and tell you which code is causing the check engine light It could be any thing from a bad spark plug to an O2 sensor or a throttle sensor.

Answer 8

YOU SHOULD GET THE VEHICLES COMPUTER SCANNED AND CHECK FOR ANY PROBLEMS AS WELL AS CODES AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE A GOOD IDEA ON WHAT THE PROBLEM TRULY IS.

TRY FINDING AN INDEPENDENT SHOP INSTEAD OF THE DEALER OR A CHAIN STORE BECAUSE YOU WILL BE OVERALL MORE PLEASED WITH THE FINDINGS AND THE SERVICE.

Answer 9

an information sensor is malfunctioning. you will have to get the vehicle scanned to find the problem. There are many sensors in your car that can trigger the service engine light.

Answer 10

I would take it to your mechanic and have them run a diagnostic on it. There are so many possibilities with "dummy lights" in cars these days that tracking it down yourself might take too long, and if you drive it like that, you might break down or start a fire.

Answer 11

Simplest answer: Check your gas cap. Tighten it until it clicks...that might be your problem. I've had this happen to me before.

If not, then you might have a variety of things wrong. Might be an oxygen sensor, might be oil, might be a ton of things...you'll have to have a professional check it if the gas cap thing doesn't solve your problem.