Service Engine Light Help Please

[CryBoy]

I recently bought a 1998 Nissan 200SX with 116K miles. The ?Service Engine Soon? light just came on today as I was driving.

Questions: Am I in big trouble, financially speaking? Can I turn this light off? Will this vehicle pass inspection with that light on?

Thanks for any help.

 

[BADTODABONE]

Could be in big trouble, have you priced a replacement engine? Maybe as little as an oxygen sensor that has tripped. Run it by a Nissan store and have a diagnostics check, might cost you a half hour of the rate. No you can't turn the light off, clip wires and your in bigger trouble than you already have on your hands with a high mileage vehicle. I'm in TX, I'll check with a tech on the inspection pass with the light on and get back with you.

 

[bubbas1]

Save some money and take it to autozone. They will check the code for you for free.

 

[THE KOD]

its just a light that comes on that forces you to take it to the dealer for their recommended service.

Check all the fluids and take it in to get it serviced.

 

[ocelot]

Could even be the seal on the gas tank lid but I would take it autozone or a trusted repair shop - anywhere but the dealer unless of course it may be under some kind of used car warranty in which case I would STILL tale it somewhere else 1st for a diagnostic if possible.

 

[BADTODABONE]

CB

The 'service' light won't keep it from passing inspection in TX, just called a buddy of mine who is a service mgr at a new car dealership.

 

[CryBoy]

CB

The 'service' light won't keep it from passing inspection in TX, just called a buddy of mine who is a service mgr at a new car dealership.

Thanks for checking that out for me. This vehicle won't be up for inspection until July.

Thanks for the gas tank lid advice, ocelot. I will test that out. And you are absolutely correct. The dealer is the last place I would take my car for any service.

 

[Simply In The Red]

its just a light that comes on that forces you to take it to the dealer for their recommended service.

Check all the fluids and take it in to get it serviced.

It usually more than just take it for a tune-up. Take it to a trusted technician and have them run a scan on it. If you can find out the codes, post them on here.

You can take it to the idiots at your local Autozone and have them run a scan. Once again, write down the actual codes that they find and not the explanation that they tell you. They are not allowed by the company to reset the light but that will not do you any good if something is wrong since the light will come back on again.

If you can, post the codes that you find and I might be able to tell you more.

 

[P FLAPS]

My wife had the same car, and miles on it . Same thing happened, she had to bring it to a dealer, and pay $120 just to hook it to the machine to tell her it was the oxygen sensor. The problem in MA is you won't pass inspection with it on. Needless to say we just traded it in and bought a 2005 Subaru Legacy.

 

[Simply In The Red]

Same thing happened, she had to bring it to a dealer, and pay $120 just to hook it to the machine to tell her it was the oxygen sensor. The problem in MA is you won't pass inspection with it on. Needless to say we just traded it in and bought a 2005 Subaru Legacy.

You traded your car in because it needed an oxygen sensor. Car dealerships love people like you. :mj07: :mj07:

 

[Agent 0659]

Needless to say we just traded it in and bought a 2005 Subaru Legacy.

:scared :scared :scared :mj07: :mj07: :mj07:

 

[KJNY2]

the check engine light doesn't necessarily have to be anything major... since it's a 1998 its OBD-II equipped, which means it can be scanned pretty easily. I work at a service station and we do OBD-2 diagnostics free of charge. i'm sure you could find a place that will scan it and give u the technical explaination of the code... if u get it feel free to PM me and i can elaborate
KJ

 

[CryBoy]

Just came back from AutoZone. The code from the reading was P0420. I went back inside and got a brief explanation of the code. The guy said it was a catalytic converter due to other possible problems. His suggestion was to take the vehicle to a garage and have it thoroughly checked.

Any help from the Madjack crew will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Simply In The Red]

P0420
Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold

Start by checking the exhaust system for any leaks. You may be having problems with the secondary oxygen sensor. I'll see if I can find anything else out.

 

[P FLAPS]

Whats the big deal on trading in a 7 yr. old piece of shit for a nice new car? Your right, car dealers do love people who can afford to get rid of their old cars and get new ones. Get a life ****nuckles.

 

[CryBoy]

Bad Gas???

Bad Gas???

Could it be the type of gas that I put in the car? I switched to CostCo's 87 octane. The SERVICE ENGINE SOON light came on about 10 miles after the fill up at CostCo. I have been using CostCo's 87 octane on my Honda Passport for 4 years without any problem at all. :shrug:

 

[P FLAPS]

Make sure your gas cap is on for starters.

 

[mrhotpicks2]

it wont pass inspection with the light on. but you prolly have to get it fixed anyway, it might break down on you in the middle of the road. my SRS light was on and it would not pass inspection. Thankfully my brother in law is friends with a guy that owns a car shop, and he hooked me up with a sticker. Somebody can go into your dashboard and unplug the light if thats what you wanna do, thats its illegal to do, so you need to know somebody that will do it for you as a personal favor type thing. Thats what I was going to get done but Honda's are timing consuming to do that too, so he just gave me a sticker, LOL

 

[mrhotpicks2]

yeah you may have to take it to the dealer to at leats see what the problem is, and maybe it is not too expensive

 

[just cover]

cryboy-

There is also an exhaust sensor. If you are worried about it passing inspection disconnect the battery and hook it back up and see how long it takes for the light the come back on. By disconnecting the battery you are clearing the memory and the light should go off. That way if the light takes awhile to go back on you can probably get it through inspection.

I would try the exhaust sensor first anyway and if the light comes back on take it back. Here in Illinois there is no inspection but the only place that doesn't charge is autosone. I work at the Mitsubishi auto plant and if anything goes wrong with my wifes Galant I pull up in the back and have one ot the car conditioning tech do a full diagonistic on it. Yes there was an oxygen sensor out and luckily a gearhead guy on my line had the socket for it.

By the way this might be advertising so mods can delete but as an employee we get a decent size discount on any mitsubishis auto that we can use for family or like a sponsor for friends. i get 2 a year and have used the last years up and don't have anybody to get the discount this year. The rep people actually call the dealer the person is buying the car off and sometimes gets even more off. If anyone is interested just say something. It comes out to about $2500 extra off, and they are union made here in the US.

good luck cryboy

jc