98 Jeep Check engine light is on?

Question

I have a 1998 Grand Cherokee Jeep. The check engine light came on about 4-5 months ago, maybe even longer. I had it diagnosed by a friend and we couldnt figure out the code. I dont even remember what it was do to it being so long ago. I have to get a smog test by January though, so I would like to get it fixed. Ive read on a couple sites that sometimes the check engine light will come on after a certain amount of miles? My jeep has about 217,000 + miles on it. Could this be why? Is there any way to get the light to go off? We've tried resetting it, but it comes back on right away.

Im tyring to find places that will diginose it before I have a smog test, does anyone know if Kragen Auto Parts does it?

Answer 1

A small piece of black electrical tape will fix that just fine. cover the light with the tape and keep driving. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. It could cost you hundreds of dollars to chase the problem down. How much money do you want to put into a rig with over 200K on it?

Answer 2

Kragen's won't do it. My 94 Jeep Grand Cherokee always got the check engine light problem and it was never anything important and it would go away, so I stopped taking it to the shop and blowing money on the diagnostics. But with your miles, it wouldn't hurt to have a real shop check it out in case it's an O2 sensor that could be messing with emissions. Better to find out now than to fail a smog test and have to pay for it again after getting it fixed.

Answer 3

My light came on about 110,000 miles (Isuzu truck). I paid a garage about $50 just to reset it. They said there was nothing wrong with the engine.
Were I in your place and this really bothered me then I would take the jeep into a professional mechanic who works with Jeeps. It could be that you would pass the test with the light on or off.
Because I have a "gross polluter" I have to take my truck to a Test Only shop. I was referred to a reputable one by my regular mechanic. They tested it and it did not pass. I had repairs done. The smog shop tested it again at no cost and it passed.
I sometimes think smog tests are just to encourage people to junk their old cars and buy new ones.
Good luck.

Answer 4

You can buy a code reader and do it yourself.
If you have done all the maintenance on it, then don't rule out something simple like a bad seal on the gas cap.
Check your engines compression, it may need a overhaul to get the code to clear.
The check engine light does not mean that the smog systems are not functioning right, it means the engine is running outside design perimeters and needs attention.

Answer 5

Your owner's manual should have the information about correcting the "Check Engine" light. If you do what it says to do and the light still doesn't go out, call the service department of your dealer and tell them the problem. It may be a computer problem that must be corrected by the dealer service department.

Answer 6

I don't know about Kragen...but if you have an Advance Auto Parts Store in ur area...they will diagnose it for free...at least they do here in NC. =0)

Answer 7

Same thing happened to me...I've had it fixed and the light is still on over a year later...nothing was really even wrong with it...adn I have over 200,000 miles on it too...so must be why although wouldn't hurt to have a mechanic look at it.

Answer 8

You could try autozone. No idea what a kragan is. You see not all of us live in the same town as you do

Answer 9

yeah we just got a jeep with that same exact problem dont worry about it will be fine.