Service Engine Soon

Rick Long · 08-21-2011, 12:35 PM

If you get a "Service Engine Soon" light... it DOESN'T mean change your oil and filter! IT means "YOU HAVE A PROBLEM THAT MUST BE FIXED"!!!!

I got one of those lights... said, "aww heck I just changed the oil", and proceeded to drive over the hump to Pahrump (60 miles each way). I noticed it didn't seem to climb that 7% grade as easy but maybe I just let it lug down to low.
Getting ready for a two week trip that meant traveling a much greater distance, I thought I should get that light cleared. Quick stop at Auto Zone and on to Costco to fill her up and I'll be all set.

AAAHHH!!!! A code #303 = number 3 cylinder not firing and a #1151, which basically means the computer gave up because it couldn't correct the RICH or lean condition of the fuel system!!! This was bad, very bad... I leave in two days and I HAVE to be there when my grand-daughter is born.

Took it back to storage to let it cool down before I pop open that dog house cover and very hesitantly look for cylinder number three. In my mind I just knew it would be bad, as in a spark plug blown out, ripping the three little threads off as it went. Uhh wait, what is this... the coil that sits on top of the plug wasn't bolted down!! Not even all the way in the plug hole!!! The tab that bolts it down was gone... broken off and it appears it was never there sense I've owned it. Carefully slid a socket down on the spark plug and YES!!! it was still screwed in there... NO striped threads! Just the bad coil. $59 later the new coil is installed and that light should go out soon ( yea right). Seemed to be running just fine sooo... I left for my trip. It remained on for the entire trip, 650 miles. I stopped at home to unload things and then take it back to storage.. HEY!!! Guess what??? The light is NOW out!! Life is good again.

ps Lorena was 8lbs 9oz with a full head of hair!!

Norm4015 · 08-21-2011, 12:44 PM

I love success stories.

LVJ58 · 08-21-2011, 08:40 PM

Apparently the PCM reset itself after sensing the coil was now functioning properly.

Glad to hear it worked out for the best...

genesimmons · 08-21-2011, 09:08 PM

dissconnect battery for a few minutes or see if autozone can clear the code

macnkat · 08-25-2011, 10:59 PM

The code will usually reset after 3 or 4 starts, or like said above, disconnect the battery.

It has been my experience that every time the CEL goes on it's smog related...with the only exception being an obvious change in the shifting of the MH which turned out to be the output shaft sensor. CEL go on and off so often on my California cars I don't panic anymore. I just wait until I'm home, or pack the code reader for RV trips, and check it then. Always some type of EVAP or purge valve or something smog related and almost always clears up with a few starts.