Check engine light....'02 Impala

[lakelover]

I thought I'd just throw this out here. My wife's check engine light came on while we were away during the summer and stayed on for over a week. When we got home, I took it to the garage, they put it on the analyzer, but couldn't find anything wrong with it but were able to reset the light. It came on again, so I took it back and they installed a new gas cap. Light went out.<br /><br />It stayed out for a number of days but now it's back on. Come to find out that my wife tends to idle the car for long periods (20 minutes or more) with the AC on while she does paperwork for her job. I'm wondering if this causes the problem. (I've tried to dissuade her from doing this). <br /><br />I threw in a can of Sea Foam yesterday (cheap man's hope with fingers crossed) to see if that would help. I just read in another thread that someone did this with another cleaner to clean out the O2 sensor and got their light to go off.<br /><br />All through this, the car has been running fine.<br /><br />Anybody have any experience like this? Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Check engine light....'02 Impala

Within warranty period???? Are you going to a chevrolet garage or a local person?<br /><br />Yes, extended periods of ideling will load up the sensors. I think the gas cap excuse was bogus but cheap.<br /><br />If you continue to have problems email me at work and I will run it by our head mechanic.<br /><br />Bob rpf924@hotmail.com

 

[lakelover]

Re: Check engine light....'02 Impala

Originally posted by Bob_VT:<br /> Within warranty period???? Are you going to a chevrolet garage or a local person?<br /><br />Yes, extended periods of ideling will load up the sensors. I think the gas cap excuse was bogus but cheap.<br /><br />If you continue to have problems email me at work and I will run it by our head mechanic.<br /><br />Bob rpf924@hotmail.com

Thanks, Bob. <br />The car is way out of warranty (I think, I'll have to check on that); I went to my usual garage where they've done right by me for over 20 years. I wondered if they were grasping at straws with the gas cap. As soon as my wife told me how long she idles for, I thought that might be the problem because it went several days the last time before it came on again.<br /><br />I'll see if the Sea Foam makes a difference, if not I'll get back to you.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Check engine light....'02 Impala

Gas cap COULD, but probably wouldn't put excessive pressure in the fuel system. Long periods of idle will set off sensors. Some times the codes will be stored, sometimes they will be ghost.<br /><br />Probably the O2 sensor starting to load up. In this case, running at normal RPMs will clean it up. Disconnect the battery for 10 - 15 seconds will clear computer. If comes back again, remove O2 sensor and heat it to cherry red. Then put it back and keep going.<br /><br />Hope this helps. In most cases, when the Check Engine lite comes on, it is telling you that you are not burning your fuel efficiently (like long periods of idle).

 

[jamesgreen]

Re: Check engine light....'02 Impala

I had a 1990 Ford Ranger check engine light stayed on til I think it burned out. I talkin years. It never ran bad or had any trouble. I put it on a computer once told me it could be O2 sensor or mass air flow blah, blah, blah. sold the truck about a year ago to a friend who moved to FL. he is still driving it til this day. saw it just this summer it's doing fine.

 

[cajun555]

Re: Check engine light....'02 Impala

Lakelover, Just had same problem on my 2000 astro. Light came on, stayed on for 2 weeks. Finally got hold of a scanner for OB II systems. Read code of small evaporative leak. First an least costley is the gas cap. <br /><br />Bought a new cap, that lasted 3 days, light came on again. Took van to a garage this time. Same code, small evaporative leak. Ended up being some sort of canister was cracked. Replaced that, drove for 3 days, stupid light came on again.<br /><br />Took van back to garage, reread code and even light was on there was no codes in the computer. <br /> <br />Drove van for 3 more days, no code, now I get it inspected, passed emissions, and now I don't give a crap. If the light comes back on I've got 12 months to fix it.

 

[AK_Chappy]

Re: Check engine light....'02 Impala

I have been battling one on my 95 Windstar.<br />It started as a #2 Cylinder mis-fire. I checked everything on #2 and although compression was a bit low, it was within limits and withing 10% of neighboring cylinders.<br />Finally gave up, took it to the shop. They changed the injector. 100 yds out the door, it came back on. I went to a friend who runs an Xpress Lube and we used the IM machine to check for HC in the radiator. It turned out the computer was flagging #2 but #5 had a blown head gasket. Had the shop fix the head gasket, and they also changed the computer(this is how it finally flagged #5). 1 month later, I am now getting a $%^& light again. Codes out to a EGR valve, changed the EGR, the EGR control solenoid and checked vacuum to all components. GRRRRRRRRR guess it is time to go back to the shop.<br />

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Check engine light....'02 Impala

My moms Mercury Grand Marquis does the old Check Engine light bit, and it drives her nuts. My code reader claims it is an "EGR Pressure Sensor Faulty" code. Car starts and runs fine, gets the appropriate fuel economy. I told her to not worry about it unless she wants to replace that sensor. She still wigs out about it though. It comes on very erratically. You could drive that car for a week and it won't come on, then some times it will come on and off several times in a day. It reeks of "intermittant connection" to me. I told her if it starts to drive funny to let me know. Last week she was taking me and my sister to dinner, and she pulls up to my sister's house and the car is just screaming and squealing under the hood. I pop the hood and there is power steering fluid everywhere. The pressure hose had a small split in it. Needless to say I replaced it and it was fixed, but how on earth she never noticed that horrid sound of a near dry power steering pump I'll never know. So much for letting me know if the car is doing anything funny...

 

[Link]

Re: Check engine light....'02 Impala

I've been batteling the same thing with my 95 aerostar(sp) since it was new. The first few times it came on I took it in and they reset the sensor (sp) After that it comes on every other month or so for the last nine years. It stays on for a few minutes to a few days then goes out again. Quit worrying about it years ago.

 

[jimr]

Re: Check engine light....'02 Impala

if the light is coming on there is a problem somewhere. a loose gas cap will trip the light on OBD2 wehicles. new ford have a check gas cap light.if your shop can't find it go to a shop that can with the proper equipment. the days of a paper clip or $20 code reader are all but gone for new cars.the light is telling you to get it checked out and more than likely going into a default mode of operation keep driving and you could make a cheap fix an expensive one.

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Check engine light....'02 Impala

If its an '02, it must be storing codes if the light is on. Go to Checker auto and borrow their OBDII scanner and post the stored codes here if we are going to speculate any furhter on what it may be.. <br /><br />I have a code reader and it has helped several times. I even fixed one of the gap cap situations. My wifes fiend brought her car over and I checked the codes (I don't remember the code it was throwing) and told her it may just be a loose gas cap. I checke the cap and sure enough it was not tight to the point of clicking. I showed her how the cap should be tightened and sent her on her way after clearing the codes and light. This was about five months ago. I ran into her about 2 weeks ago and ther has been no reoccurance. Undesevedly I looked like a genius, and my wife just smiled..<br /><br />Post some codes and give us something to work with..

 

[lakelover]

Re: Check engine light....'02 Impala

It's been a while, here's an update.<br /><br />I just had the car fixed, it needed a new "Evap vent valve" (Chev. part #D-250755P, kind of hard to read the writing on the work order), as determined by a smoke test. The codes found were P0440 and P0452, both evap fault, as well as P1169, the last being engine oil. I don't know about that though, they went over it with a fine toothed comb and couldn't see any oil leaks.<br /><br />Hopefully the darn thing will stay off now. Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[Barlow]

Re: Check engine light....'02 Impala

just a little hint from a mechanic buddy of mine from a Cadilac dealership. <br /><br />Disconnect the battery for 15 minutes.<br /><br />*both cables*<br /><br />If it comes back on ... disconnect for 30 minutes.<br /><br />If it appears again - take it to your mechanic and have it 'hooked-up' to their machine.<br /><br />More often than not, He claims, the cars computer just needs to be reset.<br /><br />However, if there is an obvious change in performance or noises it needs attention.<br /><br />I vaguely remember this in conversation a while back. So take it for what its worth, I guess - and that ain't much.

 

[islandboat]

Re: Check engine light....'02 Impala

You have an obd2 system and disconnecting the battery cables will not erase the code. It may be a soft code, which means that it is an intermitant problem. Either way, hard code or soft code, it will be stored in the memory. Does she leave the car running while she fuels it up? That can set a code. Auto Zone can read the codes for free if you have one near you. Idling the engine an hour should not turn on the check engine light if all systems are operating properly. I work with a fleet of vehicles and many of them run all day long without a problem.

 

[fixin]

Re: Check engine light....'02 Impala

Just a thought,Your wife doesn't leave it run while fueling does she?That will through a code as a slight leak.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Check engine light....'02 Impala

Originally posted by fixin:<br /> Just a thought,Your wife doesn't leave it run while fueling does she?That will through a code as a slight leak.

Nope, always shuts it off then. It's been a week now and no return of the light; she also says that a smell that she could smell (but I never did--no surprise!!) is gone now, so it makes sense about a leaky vent valve.<br /><br />So it only took three trips to the shop and $180 to turn it off!