My car's "check engine" light goes on sporadically for a short time, and then goes off. I dont notice anything

Question

irregular about the car's performance except that it moves slowly and sluggishly for the first 1/2 minute after starting in the morning. What could be wrong?

Answer 1

There are many things that will cause the check engine light to come on. Since it goes back out after a bit, that means it's an intermitent problem and not a serious one at that, since you dont notice any difference in the running of the car. That also means that it will take longer and cost more to diagnoise and fix the problem. I would just not worry about it at this point in time. Just wait til it gets worse. The one acception to this advice is if your car is due soon for state inspection, it wont pass if the CEL is on>

Answer 2

The engine's diagnostic system is showing you a code. My old Pontiac Parisienne has been doing this for over ten years now without anyone ever finding a fault.
The hesitation you describe could have something to do with a sensor though - I once had to replace a bimetal sensor which regulates the engine in warm-up phase, and at another occasion, there was something wrong with the emission control (sensor again).
Those are just niggles. If they don't get progressively worse, they may well just disappear all by themselves.

Answer 3

Im gonna be straight honest with you. It could be a multitude of things going on to cause your vehicle to be sluggish. I could take all day to give you a list of what could cause this. The best thing to do is when the check engine light is on, you can take it to a reputable repair shop, autozone, or even if you have a friend that has a scanner to read the codes the vehicle's computer is producing. Now note, the codes can only be read when the check engine light is on. if it goes out, it means whatever is going on has corrected itself. Just try to catch a moment when the light is on, and try to get to one of the above places mentioned to get the code read.

Answer 4

I know on mine, the dealer told me that the engine sucks the gas out of the tank and sometimes the gas cap is not allowing air to come in to replace it, and the CHECK ENGINE light comes on.

The solution in THAT case is to simply take the gas cap off and put it back.

It IS possible for a gas cap to be not working right.

That MAY cause sluggishness.

Answer 5

the smart thing to do would be go with what david c says ( certified master tech ),,you never un plug your bettery to clear clodes because you could erase stored the stored running memory,,changing gas stations doesnt do jack. find a good repair shop to run a computer diagnostic test on it ( about $ 60.00 bucks ).Any sensor going bad can and will effect your car in the long run even if it isnt that bad right now.

Answer 6

The quick and easys are a poor connection to the lambda sensor on the exhaust system and stop using supermarket petrol, which will increase the MPG to more than make up for the price difference anyway.

Answer 7

You have a problem with the engine and it's something that needs to be checked asap. If it comes on and stays on, then you should get it checked immediately. Don't keep putting it off, whatever it is it needs attention.

Answer 8

un plug battery to reset ck engine light, if it comes back on, take to local repair shop....in the mornings, it is november so it might be kinda cold , gives it a few moments to warm up but going to work and etc

Answer 9

Probably a Oxygen sensor. If the light coming on doesn't bother you, ignore it. It won't hurt a thing.

Answer 10

Try using gas from a different gas station. Betcha it goes away completely...