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My "check engine" light has been coming on every now and then for quite a while. It started doing it after we got the thing serviced (weird, huh?) I'm really wondering just why it's doing that because it sure freaks me out.
You need to get the computer read so you can see what it says. Some auto parts stores such as AutoZone, will read them for free. It is impossible to guess what it could be as there are lots of things that can trigger it.
It would also be helpfull if you gave us the engine size and what was serviced.
I drive an '89 with a 3.0L engine. I had it serviced a while ago to cure a bad fan clutch and replace a cracked fan. Along with that, a new water pump and new spark plugs (I think). The radiator also had a hole in it, I had to get a whole new one. Other than that, that's all.
I hear you! I have a 90 4.0L and have been thru the same list plus some. On a car of this age, there are too many things that can turn on the check engine light. The light is the computer's way of telling you something has gone wrong and it needs to output the information.
If you get it read, usually someone here can help with directing you to the problem area. It may be a loose connection, bad sensor, failing part or many other things.
It's a bit intermittent too. It usually doesn't show up unless I've been driving for maybe twenty minutes and then it'll go away on its own, especially after sitting a light or something.
Guess I should get a computer diagnostic, eh? I think Autozone gives those for free...
Each time a problem occurs the Red Light occurs, something in the system has sent an incorrect reading and the computer is notifying the driver. When the reading returns to normal. the light goes out.
The computer stores these codes so that you can find out what caused the red lights. It could mean something is dirty, something is failing or something has failed, but is only an error under certain conditions.
It's not a computer diagnostic. That is when they hook up a system to evaluate your engine while it is running. This is merely dumping the codes in the on-board computer. They have already occured and are stored so they can tell you why it is happening.
If it is something critical, next time it could cause engine shutdown or worse.
You need to find out what the computer is telling you.
Well how do I go about finding out what the computer's telling me?
It's also the orange light. The red one that says "engine" comes on a lot but it's been doing that since we got the thing over a decade ago, some sort of silly glitch.