Check engine light always on?

Question

I have a 2005 Dodge Caravan and the check engine light has been on for several months. It runs fine. I took to the dealer for oil change, etc., and they asked if I wanted them to look at it for $98.00. I said no...

Answer 1

autozone and the like only pull codes. they have no true diadnostic capability. they can get you a best guess answer but again, can not do an accurate diagnosis. cycle the key 3 times, on the last time leave it on the run position. in the odometer display it should flash codes...like a p0300 or similar. find these codes, email me, or post it up here and i will tell you where you need to go from there.

Answer 2

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RE:
Check engine light always on?
I have a 2005 Dodge Caravan and the check engine light has been on for several months. It runs fine. I took to the dealer for oil change, etc., and they asked if I wanted them to look at it for $98.00. I said no...

Answer 3

Check engine light is typically due to a sensor detected a fault in the car.

The majority of time it is emissions related. A 2005 vehicle might still be under warranty, and you might as well get it fixed now before you have to pay for parts and labor for being out of warranty.

If it's an emission related problem, the Federal law requires emission components to be warrantied for 8 year/80K miles.

Answer 4

It could be Oxygen sensor (more than likely)

Oxygen sensors examine the amount of oxygen in the exhaust gas leaving the engine. The sensor compares the oxygen inside the exhaust system to oxygen in the air outside the sensor. Rich exhaust has less oxygen; lean has more. The amount of oxygen in the exhaust is directly related to the fuel/air mixture entering the engine. A rich incoming fuel/air mix produces exhaust with less oxygen, while lean produces exhaust with more oxygen.
Oxygen sensors contain a crystal that is sensitive to oxygen. These crystals produce a small voltage when there is more oxygen on one side of the crystal than the other. When the mixture is lean, there is a small difference in oxygen content between the exhaust and the atmosphere, so the crystal produces a low voltage. The exhaust from a rich mixture has less oxygen than is in the air, so the crystal produces a higher voltage. Normal voltage ranges from one hundred millivolts (lean) to nine hundred millivolts (rich).
The computer monitors how much and how often the voltage changes, and if it doesn’t meet specifications, the computer turns on the light and sets a code. Unfortunately, the computer can’t determine why the sensor isn’t switching from rich to lean, so it is limited to setting an oxygen sensor code.

Answer 5

you need to check to see if it's giving you a false reading, a lot of times the light will come on without anything wrong, our chevy manual says bad gas will cause this, loose gas cap, wet or moisture on the electrical connectors, to check if it a false reading, just disconnect the battery for 3 minutes, after reconnecting the battery the light goes out , you're fine no problem, but if the light comes back on then you need to take into service

Answer 6

There could be three things wrong.

1. Gas Cap - Not Tight Enough (loose does not cause a tight seal for vaccum)
2. Fuel Pump - The pump does not go out right away it takes time, the light is the indicator that it might be the problem. Most pumps are located in the tank.
3. Sensor - might just have a sensor that needs to be replaced.

There is really no telling. Take it to Mieneke, they only charge $75.00 to see what's wrong.

Answer 7

Some places will do a free diagnostic check ... plug in the little computer and figure out what's wrong.

Until they see what's setting off the light - they can't fix it. (Or you can wait a few more months & the light bulb will burn itself out - then you'll REALLY not know that there's something wrong with your car)

Answer 8

You won't belive this, but check the fuel cap, it has to be 3 clicks tight. Also MAY need to have computer reset. Most of the time if it's running fine.....don't fix it.

Answer 9

Don't know how your dodge works but mine had digital odometer and if i turned the key on and off 3 times the truck would tell you whats wrong in the odometer.

Answer 10

they need to look at it to see why the engine light is on. 98 is a normal fee for them to look at it & let you know what the problem is. It could be an o2 sensor needing replaced.