idiot light on

beefy z · 11-05-06, 08:17

have '03 impala with 30K on it. just went out of warranty last week would you believe. check engine idiot light came on and stays on. must have been set to go on at end of warranty. checked gas gap and cap was off. figured that was it. retightened it but cap didn't seem to lock. kept coming off. finally, after pushing down on it, it seemed to lock. disconnected the battery, waited 15 minutes to reset the computer, and reconnected. light goes on/stays on with startup of motor. everything else appears nomal, car runs great. anyone else have similar problems? where do i look now. would hate going back to the dealer schmucks just to hook up their stinkin analyzer for $75 and then installing some $2 part and charging me $200 for the whole procedure. anyone have similar problem ? thanks
z

Eliot Ness · 11-05-06, 08:31

I'd check and make sure your gas cap doesn't need to be replaced. I'd also throw in a bottle of gas treatment (dry gas) to make sure it isn't moisture in your tank causing the problem. I had a Chevy Venture about three years ago where the light came on like that twice in about two years, and both times a bottle of dry gas took care of it within minutes.

If those ideas don't work my guess is an O2 sensor, but you'll need to hook it up to figure out which one. Advance or AutoZone offer a free diagnostic, but one of my friends with a shop says their equipment isn't as sophisticated as what most shops have.

TnM6i · 11-05-06, 10:54

Take it to your nearest AutoZone. They will scan the codes in the computer and see what the cause of the CEL is. As long as there's a code stored in the ECM, they can read it. Sounds like it could be a faulty gas cap, though.

beefy z · 11-07-06, 01:46

thanks guys.....also did a little more research on this. seems like i was wrong about disconnecting the battery to "reset the computer". according to what i read, that will not reset it. it usually has to be brought in to the dealer r*****s to read & erase it and then naturally sell you some $2 part for a total of $150-200 for the service. i did bring it it to the local autozone i deal with and the code came up "P0440" which was an evap code & something to do with pollution system. in other words, it was consistent with driving with the cap off which was what happened to the wifey . they said even with the cap on right it would take a few days for the light to go off. i don't understand that but like i said from what i read it said that the light will remain ON until removed by that scanner. now i have to figure out why that happened;never happened before. if it happens again, i guess i will have to start by replacing the cap and at the same time switch over to a locker which the way the price of gas is going, i should of done a long time ago anyway. if i get the light & code again after that, i guess i will have to get it tested further but not from the dealers.
thanks again for the help.

lukeinva · 11-09-06, 07:15

If you have an auto zone near you, take it there they will read the codes for free then just cross reference the code they tell you. There are literally tons of things it could be, O2 sensor, TCM, IAD, bad intake manifold gasket. I would do that first. that way you dont have to pay the $85 the dealer charges just to hook it up to the computer.

lukeinva · 11-09-06, 07:16

Man I guess I should have read your last post!!!! lol!!

Danase · 11-09-06, 07:21

Some cars are equiped to light up when a scheduled "service" is due. Like oil change or checkup. My Honda did this but the dealer can bypass it. Wonder if that could be it?

beefy z · 11-09-06, 07:24

HEY Danase...how are ya. thanks for a reply. haven't talked to you for awhile. guess that's because the foam gun and all the detailing supplies i got from you are still going great. should run out by the spring however and will be ready for another order.
gees....i hope that's not it; a light goes on to tell me its time for a "service" visit. what a way to get you to come in and get charged for removin the light !!!t the owners manual says noting about that. just says the light will remain on if there's a problem. the wifey has been driving it the last few days, and incidently through a drivin rain storm that lasted all day, and no idiot lights. the manual says that could be a reason for an idiot light to go on. no, i don't think my chevy uses them to give a service warning. i found the gas cap off, for wahtever reason, and when i tried to put it back on, it just wouldn't "lock"as usual. will have to monitor it.
by the way, back to detailing, i read a few months back that a special auto soap for foam gun usage was going to come out. have you read about it or have you got it? i've tested a few. have my own personal favorites but wondered if this "special" soap for the foamer ever came out.

Danase · 11-10-06, 11:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by beefy z

HEY Danase...how are ya. thanks for a reply. haven't talked to you for awhile. guess that's because the foam gun and all the detailing supplies i got from you are still going great. should run out by the spring however and will be ready for another order.
gees....i hope that's not it; a light goes on to tell me its time for a "service" visit. what a way to get you to come in and get charged for removin the light !!!t the owners manual says noting about that. just says the light will remain on if there's a problem. the wifey has been driving it the last few days, and incidently through a drivin rain storm that lasted all day, and no idiot lights. the manual says that could be a reason for an idiot light to go on. no, i don't think my chevy uses them to give a service warning. i found the gas cap off, for wahtever reason, and when i tried to put it back on, it just wouldn't "lock"as usual. will have to monitor it.
by the way, back to detailing, i read a few months back that a special auto soap for foam gun usage was going to come out. have you read about it or have you got it? i've tested a few. have my own personal favorites but wondered if this "special" soap for the foamer ever came out.

I didn't even put your screen name and who you really where togehter. Sorry about that! LOL Everything is good on this end. Hope all is well with you!

Hope all is well with the car now!