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Post by jimv213 on Jan 24, 2010 23:30:27 GMT -5
Hi there,
I'm new on this site and I have an issue with the Service engine soon light. I did extensive searches on google and did not find a solid answer. I've also searched on this website but the search options was not too user friendly.
Anyways, my question is... how do i shut the light off? Its driving me insane. I know the light is just a reminder to have your car serviced because of a certain mile that the car has reached. Many cars have this light also and usually there is a button beneath the dash to reset the light, but on the Montero I can not find such a button. So if anyone have any experiences on this, please share.
Thank you.
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Post by Joel_CA on Jan 25, 2010 0:59:58 GMT -5
The Montero Sports do NOT have a (red) "maintenance required' reminder light that comes on every 50K like the older Montero's did. If you have an (amber)"service engine soon" lamp on- your ecu has detected a fault in your vehicles emissions system. Any OBDII scan tool can read the trouble code for you.
JJ
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Post by jimv213 on Jan 25, 2010 1:13:20 GMT -5
Do any of you know that if Kragen auto or as known as Checkers for the east coast carries this OBDII tool and if their services is free?
What do you think could some of the problems with the cars emission, the catalytic converter, muffler?
Just to be clear - this is light is not be mistaken for the 'Check' engine light correct?
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Post by jimv213 on Jan 25, 2010 1:17:46 GMT -5
And the vehicle I'm describing is a 2002 Mitsubishi Montero Sport. =)
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Post by Joel_CA on Jan 25, 2010 6:15:10 GMT -5
I forget exactly what year, but the Montero Sport switched from the typical "check engine" light- to a more subtle "service engine soon" light. Both are one in the same as far as purpose. The light can come on for something as simple as leaving the fuel cap loose to any of at least 100 different reasons. You'll need to have it checked to know for sure.
Kragen and Autozone used to check OBDII codes for free in years past but from what i've heard- they are no longer doing that anymore. You'll have to call and find out from your own local stores if they can check it for you. Just DO NOT buy anything from them based on their diagnosis as they are not qualified to diagnose your vehicle.
JJ
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Post by n2audio on Jan 25, 2010 14:45:26 GMT -5
my local advance auto (not sure what chain that is) has checked my service engine light code twice. 2nd time they sold me a gas cap. No light since then. Win-win  |
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Post by jimv213 on Jan 25, 2010 17:14:07 GMT -5
^^^ Thanks for your input. I will go to the auto store and pick up a gas cap. But, I'm curious as to how something so simple such as a gas cap could fail and trigger the check engine light? Wouldn't hurt to try though thanks
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Post by unlimited on Jan 25, 2010 17:33:14 GMT -5
It may not be a bad gas cap. I had this problem one time where I must not have tightened my gas cap right, went home, following morning I had the check engine light. Had a friend scan it and it came back as the gas cap, I took it off and re-seated it, and had him clear it, never happened again. It's designed to let the driver know that the gas cap is off, but seems to be more hassle than anything.
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Post by jimv213 on Jan 25, 2010 18:07:18 GMT -5
So it's not the gas cap. I went straight to kragen after reading this and picked it up. I was sorta excited first thinking it would be the answers to my problems because it also states on the gas cap that if it is not tighten it could cause the SES light to come on. But it was not and I'm kinda bummed. This car is a 2002 with less that 100k miles. Well kept and well maintained. Never has been abused and normally driven under 3k rpm. I guess the only option now is to have it checked out with the OBDII scanning tool.
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Post by Joel_CA on Jan 26, 2010 0:15:17 GMT -5
EVAP codes are hardly ever caused by a failed fuel cap. They are usually caused by the fuel cap being left loose or not tightened enough. On top of that- when the problem is corrected (fuel cap tightened)- it may take several EVAP monitors to pass in succession for the MIL (malfunction indicator lamp) to turn off on it's own. So even if you check the fuel cap and its tight- it still could have been the fuel cap that triggered the MIL when it was left loose a few fill ups prior to you checking.
Try disconnecting the battery to erase the MIL and make a mental note to tighten the fuel cap after each fill up. If the MIL comes back on- then you have another issue not related to the fuel cap.
JJ
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Post by picaflor on Jan 26, 2010 8:49:20 GMT -5
you can go to any discount auto parts store and they would borrow you the OBDII reader. connect it under the steering wheel in the connector for that, and you will get a code, a number, and depending on the obdii reader, a description too.
yes, gas cap is one of the major probabilities, but other things can also happen. you need to know what code is to find more.
with the same tool, you can reset that code, and clear that service light and lets see if happen again. as they said, if the problem was the gas cap, it could stop appearing or maybe show one more time.
that light is not a reminder of anything. it normally shows a problem, determined by the multiple sensors in the engine
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sold it at 218k