noname024

Has anyone ever had the "Service Engine Soon" light come on as an effect to cold weather? Today was the first time it was really very cold out and I went out to start up my car and it acted like it was about to die a couple or three times so I gave it a couple of good revs to get the engine warmed up and running. A couple of seconds later I get the 'Service Engine Soon' light. It stayed on the whole time I drove to school and back four hours later. I start it up after I get home to have a look at it and I see that the rpms are fluctuationg between maybe about 700 to 1000 at idle. Then about 30 mins later I start it up and it has no problem idling at 1000. The only thing I can think of is the cold weather because it has no problem idling when its warm out. My car sits outside all night too if that's any correlation. Any advice/information/flaming is greatly appreciated (not so much the flaming)

2001NBMZ28

Get the code(s) read first, that'll tell you whats going on.

noname024

That's the problem. I don't have the cable to connect to it, and I really don't know how to go about doing it. Do I buy a cable and software from somewhere to hook up and install on a laptop. Or do you have to buy a special device?

2001NBMZ28

What year is your car? Auto Zone and other places will read OBDII codes for free.

NHRAMAN

iTrader: (1)

AGREED.........we need SLIGHTLY more info.

noname024

It's a 1998. Thanks, I'll run by there tomorrow and see what it throws at me.

More info:
1998
Ram Air WS6
83,000 miles
M6

taintedmeat

iTrader: (1)

I sometimes get a code for my air system when it's cold out. I think it had something to do with the actual pump. Never fixed it, hasn't happened since last year.

2001NBMZ28

Write any codes down and post them, sometimes they'll just say something like "Front 02 is bad."

noname024

Well I was going to run by Auto Zone yesterday but I haven't gotten the engine light since Tuesday. I think it may have been a tank of bad gas. A friend told me his engine was running rough in his stang after he filled his tank up at kroger. Filled up Tuesday night at QT and haven't had it come on since. Although I'm also wondering if the oil has any part in it. I just changed the oil a little over a week ago and I put 10w-30 in it. I've been told I need to use either 0w-40 or 5w-40. Think this maybe a problem? I've been told I need to switch over to 0w or 5w -40 asap.