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flashing ses light need help

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Old 12-24-2008, 11:46 PM
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Default flashing ses light need help

To start off, Monday on my way to work (it was around 5 degrees outside) my car temp started going up very fast and by the time I got to a parking lot I ran the car about 3 minutes with it over the redline on the temp. Popped the hood, the car had blew off the radiator hose. Let the car cool down and refilled it with antifreeze, drove it maybe a mile down the road and the temp started going up really fast again. Later that day everything was fine, drove it to work the next day all normal, today I drove it to work and the ses light started flashing and car was sorta jittery for about 1-2 minutes and all cleared up and light stopped flashing. Drove it home from work and light started flashing and car started jittering again for 1-2 minutes and then cleared up like nothing was wrong. If anyone has any ideas of what could be wrong throw your suggestions at me, I have no clue. Thanks
Old 12-24-2008, 11:50 PM
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the last time my ses light blinked i had broken valve springs and push rods. just my 2 cents. good luck
Old 12-25-2008, 12:00 AM
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only time my ses light flashes is if the 02 sensor extensions get wet if its raining and causes the car to misfire like hell for a few minutes
Old 12-25-2008, 12:26 AM
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My brothers flashed like that but it was when he went from 4th to 3rd at the track and bent almost every pushrod and a few valves lol. Maybe you blew a head gasket? Try and get it to the autopart store if you dont have a hand held tuner to see what codes are being thrown. Good luck!
Old 12-25-2008, 12:30 AM
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Dude i don't know what to tell you about your overheating problem but as far as the flashing SES light and the jittering I had the same problem. According to the manual the flashing SES light means it's essentially in a "limp home mode" and not necessarily running on all cylinders. My problem originated a couple months after my header install and it turns out my O2 sensors had died (presumably from excess assembly/preservation grease burning off and f*cking up my O2 sensors). Long story short, I replaced my O2 sensors with Bosch 13111's and have not had so much as a hiccup since.
Old 12-25-2008, 05:04 PM
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You're on the wrong forum. This isn't a general engine troubleshooting forum. It's for long block questions. One tip: When the engine gets HOT turn the key to the "OFF" position and have it towed to a reputable mechanic. You'll save money that way. The LS series has aluminum heads and once they're warped that's it.
Old 12-25-2008, 05:12 PM
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Originally Posted by jonboy1231
To start off, Monday on my way to work (it was around 5 degrees outside) my car temp started going up very fast and by the time I got to a parking lot I ran the car about 3 minutes with it over the redline on the temp. Popped the hood, the car had blew off the radiator hose. Let the car cool down and refilled it with antifreeze, drove it maybe a mile down the road and the temp started going up really fast again. Later that day everything was fine, drove it to work the next day all normal, today I drove it to work and the ses light started flashing and car was sorta jittery for about 1-2 minutes and all cleared up and light stopped flashing. Drove it home from work and light started flashing and car started jittering again for 1-2 minutes and then cleared up like nothing was wrong. If anyone has any ideas of what could be wrong throw your suggestions at me, I have no clue. Thanks
Usually when the temp jacks upward real fast the t-stat is stuck closed. I can't believe you kept driving with the temp in the red That makes it a true idiot light lol

Anyway, get the thing scanned.
Old 12-25-2008, 08:05 PM
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wow... 3 minutes in the red, and you drove it that way?

Aluminum + Excessive Heat = Big Problem...

I hope you didn't do any damage... but it does sound like your thermostat may be the culprit... let us know!
Old 12-26-2008, 10:59 AM
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Originally Posted by eallanboggs
You're on the wrong forum. This isn't a general engine troubleshooting forum. It's for long block questions. One tip: When the engine gets HOT turn the key to the "OFF" position and have it towed to a reputable mechanic. You'll save money that way. The LS series has aluminum heads and once they're warped that's it.
Agreed.

And a flashing SES light means catastrophic misfire. Which means don't drive on it unless absolutely necessary.
Old 12-26-2008, 07:12 PM
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SES = random misfire. Broken valvetrain components will also trigger this.

As for the overheating, I hope nothing is damaged.
Old 12-26-2008, 07:16 PM
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+1 when my wifes grand am had a flashing SES it was due to a terrible misfire

the flashing SES means dont drive it lol
Old 12-26-2008, 11:33 PM
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Officially iirc the flashing SES is "conditions present for catalytic convertor damage". Happened to mine because i ran it on a bad o2 sensor which led to misfiring. Changed the o2 sensor and sure as sunshine about 2 weeks later it kicked a "bad cat" code. po430 i think o.O
Old 12-27-2008, 11:53 AM
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we need codes to help....
Old 12-27-2008, 04:33 PM
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got it scanned yesterday and here is the list of codes I got

p1258- ECM detected engine temp was over 270
p0135- O2 sensor 1 bank 1 heated oxygen sensor bank
p0152- O2 sensor 1 bank 2 heated oxygen sensor bank
p0153- O2 sensor 1 bank 1 response time to slow
p0300- cylinder misfire detected

p0401-insufficient flow in egr ( I put a LS6 intake on my car 2 weeks ago and removed egr stuff)

p0140- O2 sensor 2 bank 1 insufficient activity (I have the back two unplugged because I put long tubes on my car without cats)

p0160- O2 sensor 2 bank 2 insufficient activity (I have the back two unplugged because I put long tubes on my car without cats)

I'm thinking I might have burnt up my front O2'S
Old 12-27-2008, 04:49 PM
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I personally dont see anything good coming from this. I wouldnt be surprised if you warped your heads or bent your pushrods. Something to take note of in the future, if the SES light is flashing pull over turn off the car and take a peek under the hood. Shy of running for your life or taking your old lady to hospital TURN IT OFF! Get a new thermostat, check your hoses and top off the coolant and watch it like a hawk for leaks or over temp.
Old 12-30-2008, 09:57 AM
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Originally Posted by jonboy1231
got it scanned yesterday and here is the list of codes I got

p1258- ECM detected engine temp was over 270
p0135- O2 sensor 1 bank 1 heated oxygen sensor bank
p0152- O2 sensor 1 bank 2 heated oxygen sensor bank
p0153- O2 sensor 1 bank 1 response time to slow
p0300- cylinder misfire detected

p0401-insufficient flow in egr ( I put a LS6 intake on my car 2 weeks ago and removed egr stuff)

p0140- O2 sensor 2 bank 1 insufficient activity (I have the back two unplugged because I put long tubes on my car without cats)

p0160- O2 sensor 2 bank 2 insufficient activity (I have the back two unplugged because I put long tubes on my car without cats)

I'm thinking I might have burnt up my front O2'S
Ouch man...270* is a lot. Next time you see your temp going too high, start pumping the heat in your car, it should give you enough time to get home and replace the thermostat without causing damage.

Most likely you need a new thermostat and depending out when the last time you flushed the radiator you may need to do that to solve your overheating problem.

The misfire probably came from the front O2 sensors which are throwing a code of their own, and you know what is going on with the EGR and rear O2s

Good luck, I hope that is all you need to do.
Old 12-30-2008, 10:38 AM
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could be as simple as checking your plug wires
Old 12-30-2008, 04:38 PM
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I put new O2's in the front saturday night and it is running right again.




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