Check Engine Light

[Yo Mama]

2006 Chevy Equinox with just under 25,000 miles. Due for 24,000 mile service.

My question is:

Yesterday afternoon I took the kids to their dad as usual. On the way home, I started the engine, and the check engine light came on and stayed on until I put the car in gear and then it went out.

When I went to pick the kids up, it came on again, and stayed on for about a minute after I started driving, then went out again.

I checked the oil, it looked a little low, so I added a quart. The light still came on after that.

Now, the car is practically new, it's not making any noises, it's not running hot.

Due to scheduling, I won't be able to take it to the dealer until next week.

Is this likely to be something major, or is it something I can ignore safely for another 150 miles or so?

Edit to add: If the car has a little TOO much oil now, will that hurt it any? If so, I better take it up the street to the OilChangers 3000 and get it taken care of today.

[Bitchkoma]

Click on the Start Menu, click Run... and type "chkdsk /f /v /r /x c:" minus the quotes.

[Yo Mama]

Eh? BK you on something this morning? :lol:

[Lexion]

Heh....BK knows DOS. :P

When was the last time you
filled your gas tank ?

Check that the cap is on sec-
urely, and that the rubber on
the cap is not hard or cracked.

If that looks ok, let AutoZone
check the codes. They do it
for free.

It sounds like your gas cap is
leaking, though.

Let us know.

Regards,
Lex

[Yo Mama]

I thought I put it on right, but maybe not. Thanks, Lex. I'll check it when I go out to get my daughter.

[Iamsix]

I agree with Lex. Three "clicks". If not your check engine light will come on. On my wifes Pacifica, it takes three cold starts after tightening the cap for the error code to clear and the light to go off.

[Yo Mama]

The gas cap was on properly, I reseated it and am still getting the light a little bit. It may have a cracked seal or something which will piss me off because when I got the car in October, I put on a locking gas cap. Our friendly neighborhood crackheads tend to siphon gas if you don't do that.

I'm taking it in for service Tuesday, and I'll ask them to check it out.

I also read online that someone had this problem and their light just didn't reset when they corrected the gas cap problem, so maybe that's all it was.

[the titan]

Those pesky check engine lights. I have seen them go off for many minor reasons including the gas cap, and oxygen sensor. It could be some general malfunction, or a major nuisance. But I don't know.

[vckums]

When we went to Washington last March GN, our check engine light came on and the car was like 3 months old. We took it into the dealership there and they couldn't find out why it came on. Just an oops. I'd definately have them check it though.

[Yo Mama]

I read a little flyer that came from the dealer that does my service, and they allude to my check engine light coming on when it's due for an oil change.

I know that is the case, so fine. It's getting changed on Tuesday. Until then, it can deal with slightly dark oil.

[Lexion]

Ummm....I'm calling bullshit.

How the fuck does the car
know when to get the oil
changed ?

Simply put, it doesn't.

If the light comes on, there
will be a code.

Also, an O2 sensor isn't minor.

A failure of one of those can
lead to over/under fueling,
decreased gas mileage, internal
engine damage and ruined cata-
lytic converters. (most vehicles
have 2)

10 years ago, it cost $800 in parts
to replace the converters on my '84
F-150. That was no mark-up.

If the converters are bad, you will
fail an emissions test. That equals a
failed State Inspection.

Not trying to scare you, just stating
fact.

Let us know.

Regards,
Lex

[Boondock]

the light does NOT come on when you need an oil change so that is just bullshit right thuuur. MOST of the time when th eengine light comes on it is an emission control related issue. do like lex said and take it to autozone and have them read the code as that is something you can't do.

O2 sensor or something like that...

[Yo Mama]

I did some net research because I was too lazy to go down for the owner's manual.

Chevy's have a "check oil soon" light -- I think that's what I'm seeing.

It's hooked up to a trip monitor that keeps track of mileage, and has to be reset after an oil change.

From the reading I did on the AMSOil site, it's just another way to get us to waste engine oil.

[Boondock]

I did some net research because I was too lazy to go down for the owner's manual.

Chevy's have a "check oil soon" light -- I think that's what I'm seeing.

It's hooked up to a trip monitor that keeps track of mileage, and has to be reset after an oil change.

From the reading I did on the AMSOil site, it's just another way to get us to waste engine oil.

you check oil soon light will say just that. it will be a yellow light that says 'change oil soon'......you really can't mistake those lights GN....not unless you had a LOT of chocolats you know....

if it is the oil light(which i doubt), turn the key to the run spot and press the gas pedal down three times. the light will start to blink. start the car and the light will go off.
that only works with the change oil light

[Yo Mama]

It goes in for service tomorrow. I'll let them deal with it.

[Boondock]

It goes in for service tomorrow. I'll let them deal with it.

just know you can't get the lights mixed up....well, if you're a moran you can but you're not, so, you're cool

[Yo Mama]

The icon is a little Aladdin's lamp and a wrench. I know it has to do with oil, it's not engine shaped.

[Yo Mama]

That's all it was, a stupid light to come on and pressure me into changing the oil.

But the dealership put a smile on my face -- I was complaining that I'd just washed my car and it was already covered with cherry blossoms and acacia pollen, and when I went to pick it up, they'd washed it and vacuumed up all the kid spooge from the back seat.

Graham cracker bits, stale Goldfish, hard french fries, crushed snap pea crisps and assorted pieces of chewed up and spat out paper and cardboard that my son likes to decorate the car with: all gone. Whew!

[Boondock]

one of the techs told you it was an oil change light and it didn't say change oil??
it was just a symbol?hmmmmmmmmm

[Boondock]

i sure would like to see a pic of that light GN

[Yo Mama]

Nobody told me that was what it was; I figured it out for myself. Since the oil was changed, it hasn't come on.

I'll try to get down to my owner's manual at some point and see what it says.

[Boondock]

Nobody told me that was what it was; I figured it out for myself. Since the oil was changed, it hasn't come on.

I'll try to get down to my owner's manual at some point and see what it says.

they probably changed your oil and just cleared the trouble code.....i'm telling ya on the vehicle you have it will have an orange light that says change oil...you can not mistake it for the check engine light....

least it is fixed you know...

your car might have tossed a trouble code a week ago and they just cleared it.

your engine light will say 'check engine soon' or 'service engine soon'...