having a CEL

[Thewhite]

at 77105 km exactly two block from my home coming back from university, a CEL appear in my dash. fortunately, I already have an appointment for my baby friday morning for a semi-annual inspection and the 80K km transmission inspection, so they'll be able to check this out.I replaced saturday my CAI for the OEM intake to prepare my car for the winter, tighten up the bolts of the Magnaflow (there was a raddle at the junction of the resonator and the cat) and put my winter tires (my FZ4 where SO used, it was dangerous to drive under rain..). anyway, everything was fine sunday, yesterday and this morning, even tonight with the CEL on while driving to the movie theater. no weird sound, no vibration, engine is smooth, oil is good... I have absolutely no idea of what the prob is... is that happen to someone before, a CEL with no apparent cause??

[Jaycie685]

Here's a stupid question... what's "CEL"? I keep seeing it around but don't know what it stands for.

[ColonelPanic]

Check Engine Light.Also referred to in automotive circles as MIL, or Malfunction Indicator Lamp.

[Mavrik]

Idiot light... um driver's instrument error indicator lamp..."Uh... I got a submarine shaped light on my dash" yes I have heard that one.Could be on for something serious or simple, get it scanned to find out. If your stock airbox is back in and all that, everything was connected properly... should be no issues there. Now it could be a gas cap loose code. Even if the cap is tight, say you just fueled up and had the key forward to have the radio on or write down your miles while the cap was off. When that key is forward, the system is constantly scanning itself... it could have checked for tank pressure, found none and when you started up and drove off... it came on. Not saying thats what happened in your case but it can happen to people.

[Thewhite]

Quote, originally posted by Mavrik » Not saying thats what happened in your case but it can happen to people.personnal experience Mavrik??

[ArcsVibe]

Sorry to go off topic but you ALREADY put your winters on????? It was like 31C today!!

[Thewhite]

Quote, originally posted by ArcsVibe »Sorry to go off topic but you ALREADY put your winters on????? It was like 31C today!!remember how used were my Fz-4?? there were almost no more treads on them, so it was dangerous under rain, and I know I won't be able to do a complete winter with my actual set. so insteed of using my new T1-S for only a month and a half, I decided to keep them for spring and give a coup de grâce to my winter tires up to the moment I will have to put new ones.back to the subject, Mavrik, when I brought my Vibe to the dealer this morning, the lady asked me the same question: did it happen after putting gaz in it?? No! When I left at 8:00 AM, a guy was already working on her, so if it's something serious, I'll probably receive a call shortly about that...

[Atomb]

i heard an ad on the radio last night on my way home...Mr. Transmission is now offering free CEL code reading. At least in the Toronto area.Do they exist in Quebec?Good thing to remember.

[Mavrik]

Quote, originally posted by Thewhite »personnal experience Mavrik?? Not mine personally, but from experience with customers who had frequent loose gas cap codes... and I mean... usually 2-3 a month... I asked a few questions, found out how they fueled up, told them to stop that lol... they never had a prob since.

[Thewhite]

Quote, originally posted by Atomb »i heard an ad on the radio last night on my way home...Mr. Transmission is now offering free CEL code reading. At least in the Toronto area.Do they exist in Quebec?Good thing to remember.ya!!! they charge me 37$ to tell me it is a a gas cap loose code. they charge me 37$ to connect their tiny computer and tight up my gaz cap!!!!! unbeleivable!!!! I will remember that one.

[Mavrik]

Here is a simple tip. Your cell light comes on... don't go over to the cap, spin it off and then spin it on... instead, just tighten it... if its tight, its not a gas cap code. It may be a P0440 code for a small leak, but now its a sensor or vent valve problem. It will require more then a little scan tool now. The scan tool (Tech 2000 for GM guys) simply states what code is set, what RPM, wheel speed... etc. It does NOT however tell you where the problem is, only tells you what the problem is.If your cap is on tight and your getting gas cap codes. Either the seal on the cap is bad or you have a leak at which time you need to smoke pressure test the system to find it.