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Most common "Service Engine Soon" problems

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Old Jan 17, 2012 | 03:12 PM
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Default Most common "Service Engine Soon" problems

So today my car's "Service Engine Soon" light came on. It's never come on before, so it made me a little uneasy as I always keep up with the maintenance on the car. The car doesn't feel any different and it isn't acting up in anyway.

I plan on taking the car to Advance Auto Parts soon, I think they have a machine there that reads the diagnostic code. Am I right?

But before I do that can people give me a list of the most common problems that happen with that light comes on? I'm just trying to get an idea of what to expect. Thanks.
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Old Jan 17, 2012 | 03:19 PM
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LS1 cars with long tube headers will usually go through O2 sensors. Thats been my only problem....or a dirty MAF screen.
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Old Jan 17, 2012 | 03:21 PM
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Yeah, I don't have any headers. Had the cat-back on for a year now with no problems. I haven't checked the MAF screen recently, but I did check it and clean it out in September of last year.
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Old Jan 17, 2012 | 03:23 PM
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I got online and bought a cheap OBD-II scanner because I would always hate going somewhere to have it read. I like your Z28..I have a 2000 white SS just up from you here in Memphis
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Old Jan 17, 2012 | 03:26 PM
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Yeah, but I'm pretty sure Advance Auto does the readings for free, and if I'm in the area it doesn't inconvenience me much to drop by.

Thanks, I like my Z28 too. Of course I like the SS appearance options more. I plan on adding an SS spoiler to it soon.
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Old Jan 17, 2012 | 03:28 PM
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Yeah The spoilers and hood really set the SS off. If you check Craigslist here in memphis, a guy is selling a spoiler. if I remember correctly, it is primed and ready for paint. He is asking $200 i believe
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Old Jan 17, 2012 | 03:53 PM
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Originally Posted by WhiteKnight '01
So today my car's "Service Engine Soon" light came on. It's never come on before, so it made me a little uneasy as I always keep up with the maintenance on the car. The car doesn't feel any different and it isn't acting up in anyway.

I plan on taking the car to Advance Auto Parts soon, I think they have a machine there that reads the diagnostic code. Am I right?

But before I do that can people give me a list of the most common problems that happen with that light comes on? I'm just trying to get an idea of what to expect. Thanks.
The dealership told me that most of the time it can be related to O2 sensors, but in my case a catalytic converter went bad. Fortunately it was covered under the 10 year warranty. I also experienced a SES light when I ran the gas tank too low and the water condensation started getting sucked in. Some HEET took that problem away but the engine did run terribly rough which isn't your problem. That's been my experiences after 10 years of ownership.
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Old Jan 17, 2012 | 03:57 PM
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So a catalytic converter or O2 Sensor so far. Nothing serious yet, that's good. I wonder what a new cat costs?
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Old Jan 17, 2012 | 04:27 PM
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Mine since i bought it has always been the secondary air system, i think the airbox gets wet then trips the SES. Which reminds me i need to finally yank all that junk out here sometime..
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Old Jan 17, 2012 | 04:31 PM
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Originally Posted by The Mighty Texan
Mine since i bought it has always been the secondary air system, i think the airbox gets wet then trips the SES. Which reminds me i need to finally yank all that junk out here sometime..
What exactly is the secondary air system? So if the airbox gets wet...it's just a false alarm right?
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Old Jan 17, 2012 | 05:09 PM
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Speculation is pointless IMO, because there are dozens of things that could cause this light. If the light was flashing, then this would automatically indicate a serious misfire, but if it's just a steady light then it could be any one of a number of things.

Get it scanned, and then go from there.

Last time I had an SES was for cat inefficency, but the car was out of emissions warranty. Some old O2 sims took care of that problem very easily....custom tuning would have worked as well. No sniffer test here, so no worries.
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Old Jan 17, 2012 | 05:10 PM
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^ Yeah pretty much, even if it was messed up it wouldn't matter. From my understanding, it just add's more air when your car is warming up in order to heat the catalytic converters and cut down on emissions. A lot of people take it out, however i was thinking about living in California last year and i think they check all that oem stuff so i never pulled it.

Edit: Make that ^^ haha.
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Old Jan 17, 2012 | 06:06 PM
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Originally Posted by RPM WS6
Speculation is pointless IMO, because there are dozens of things that could cause this light. If the light was flashing, then this would automatically indicate a serious misfire, but if it's just a steady light then it could be any one of a number of things.

Get it scanned, and then go from there.

Last time I had an SES was for cat inefficency, but the car was out of emissions warranty. Some old O2 sims took care of that problem very easily....custom tuning would have worked as well. No sniffer test here, so no worries.
Agreed, many different possibilities. All you have to do is take it to Autozone and ask for a diagnostic scan, look up whatever code they show you on the scanner and you will know exactly what's going on with the car. Then you just figure out how to fix it.

Mines came on just once since I've had the car and that was because my drivers side cat went bad. Really though, not that you shouldn't get it fixed as soon as possible, but as long as it's not flashing it's likely nothing that needs urgent attention.
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Old Jan 17, 2012 | 08:33 PM
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Update.

I had low gas while the SES light came on. I went to the gas station and filled up, started the car. Now the light is gone? Is this normal? I'm still going to get it scanned. Maybe the light will be back tomorrow? I don't know.
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Old Jan 18, 2012 | 05:36 AM
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Could be that the last time you took the cap off you didn't replace it correctly-that will set off the SES light. It's my understanding that even if you fix the cause of an SES it's still supposed to take a few drive cycles to clear the light. However, I've had the SES disappear before that in my own cars. Get it scanned anyway, to be sure. The PCM will keep the trouble code in its memory for like 40 drive cycles, or something.
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Old Jan 18, 2012 | 04:29 PM
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Originally Posted by myk
Could be that the last time you took the cap off you didn't replace it correctly-that will set off the SES light. It's my understanding that even if you fix the cause of an SES it's still supposed to take a few drive cycles to clear the light. However, I've had the SES disappear before that in my own cars. Get it scanned anyway, to be sure. The PCM will keep the trouble code in its memory for like 40 drive cycles, or something.
Omg...you're right. When I went to the gas station last night to fill it up I did notice the cap was off when I opened the gas door. I didn't think anything of it. And immediately after that the SES light went away.

I presume nothing bad will come of it?
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Old Jan 18, 2012 | 10:21 PM
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Originally Posted by WhiteKnight '01
Omg...you're right. When I went to the gas station last night to fill it up I did notice the cap was off when I opened the gas door. I didn't think anything of it. And immediately after that the SES light went away.

I presume nothing bad will come of it?
If that was the case then it would have been an EVAP code, and the DTC would still be stored in your PCM for many drive cycles even after the light went off. In other words, you can still scan the PCM for stored codes just to verify this, even though the light is now off.

There would be no damage nor other issues to worry about with this.
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Old Jan 19, 2012 | 09:40 AM
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Right, but if I were you I'd scan the car anyway. I always hated the idea of an SES code lurking in the system...
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Old Jan 19, 2012 | 02:25 PM
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Originally Posted by WhiteKnight '01
Omg...you're right. When I went to the gas station last night to fill it up I did notice the cap was off when I opened the gas door. I didn't think anything of it. And immediately after that the SES light went away.

I presume nothing bad will come of it?
Just made you look a little bit on the internet. It can't hurt anything. My gas cap is worn out and has been known to throw a code. I got my tuner to remove the code. I'm to lazy to buy a new gas cap.
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Old Jan 19, 2012 | 07:54 PM
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^ Lol, I have an old one somewhere around if you want it.
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