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*UPDATE: found code* YACT: Engine light is on

JEDI

JEDI

Lifer
I have a 2002 chevy Prizm w/50k miles. The check engine light came on.

Here's the situation of when the light appeared:
Drove car with A/C on. (not 1st time I had A/C on this month.) Went into my garage, and placed car in park. then headlights came on automatically since garage is dark enuf to trigger the auto-on. then check engine light came on.

I've had the AC on, put the car in park, and the headlights go auto-on quite a few times over the past 2 years. Just this time the engine light came on.

How do i (w/o going to a mechanic) find out what the code is, and what the problem associated with that code?

Should i reset? (incase this was a fluke, since if it was a real problem the light will come on again.)

UPDATE:
Well, the light is still on. so when i got home, i turned off the engine and opened the hood. i added some windshield wiper fluid and opened the air filter box to see if the air filter was clogged. it wasn't. i turned it 180 degrees and put back in.

then i noticed that my antifreeze/coolant tank was EMPTY! ok, so i'm thinking that the fluid is all in the radiator and when i start the car, it'll flow and the reservior will fill up. well, i started the car and the engine light didnt come on! yeaH@!!!!! but on the other hand, my coolant tank was still empty.

i'm going to fill it tommorow morning since it's too hot to open right now.

side note: does the antifreeze/coolant just disappear? (In my '93 Sentra, i NEVER filled it in the 225k miles i drove it. and i only did a radiator flush once at 125k miles.)

do i need to fill it every so often in my Prizm?

UPDATE2:
Went to autozone. The code was p1656 and it says aux input or aux output.

What's that? And how to fix it?

Update3:
searched the web: p1656 is OCV Circuit Malfunction. What's an OCV?
 
Why not have it checked at AutoZone before resetting it?

In the manual for my car ('94 Town Car'), it says if the light goes off, the condition no longer exists. Check your manual for a little more info.
 
My local autozone will tell you what is wrong for 'free.' But I don't think they'll reset it or do anything other than tell you what the problem is without charging you.
 
^ wish I knew about that earlier. Spent hundreds on a tune-up, fuel filter, etc. only to find out it was a $50 O2 sensor. The code was something about low pressure so nobody really knew.
 
If the light does not stay on it is usually an indication that the problem is no longer there. It is comes and goes, get it checked out, it might not be anything serious at all. Constantly lit check engine light indicates a "potential" problem, but it could end up being a bad sensor or minor problem like a clogged air filter.

techfuzz
 
It's usually pretty minor, and autozone does it for free. You can reset it by disconnecting the negative terminal of the battery for several hours.
 
Originally posted by: rh71
^ wish I knew about that earlier. Spent hundreds on a tune-up, fuel filter, etc. only to find out it was a $50 O2 sensor. The code was something about low pressure so nobody really knew.
Click to expand...

Funny you mention that. My mechanic nice enough to inform me that the "'O2 sensor" thing was the cause of my engine light before I threw down some major money. My engine lights been going on/off because of it. Mechanic says it's nothing major tho' and not to worry about that type of reading.
 
last time that happened to me, it turned out that the stupid fuse blew for that particular electrical connection.

my local mechanic just switched that fuse for me for free.

tho i'm sure that costs like a few bucks at most 😛
 
UPDATE:
Well, the light is still on. so when i got home, i turned off the engine and opened the hood. i added some windshield wiper fluid and opened the air filter box to see if the air filter was clogged. it wasn't. i turned it 180 degrees and put back in.

then i noticed that my antifreeze/coolant tank was EMPTY! ok, so i'm thinking that the fluid is all in the radiator and when i start the car, it'll flow and the reservior will fill up. well, i started the car and the engine light didnt come on! yeaH@!!!!! but on the other hand, my coolant tank was still empty.

i'm going to fill it tommorow morning since it's too hot to open right now.

side note: does the antifreeze/coolant just disappear? (In my '93 Sentra, i NEVER filled it in the 225k miles i drove it. and i only did a radiator flush once at 125k miles.)

do i need to fill it every so often in my Prizm?
 
It shouldn't.

It sounds as if one of your sensors is in its death thrawls.

Next time the light comes on, just drive to Autozone and have them pull the code.
 
Originally posted by: JEDI
bump
Click to expand...
What did you bump this for? You haven't provided any additional helpful information to the nature of your MIL condition. I will grant you that your coolant tank shouldn't be empty, but that should be check at least once a week or at every fill-up along with your oil. If you continue to see coolant loss then I would be willing to assist you in finding the leak(s).

BTW, I still think your signature is unfair since you don?t have any clue how to take care of your car let alone a nation that is under threat of additional terrorism.
 
Update2:
Went to autozone. The code was p1656 and it says aux input or aux output.

What's that? And how to fix it?
 
Oil Control Valve?

Gotta love all this high-tech hoohah, eh?

Lexus? continuously variable valve timing (VVT-I) uses engine oil pressure, regulated by a control valve and commands from the ECU, to advance or retard the intake camshaft by means of a helical spline mechanism inside the VVT pulley.
  • VVT-I controls the duration of valve overlap by altering the intake valve timing. It consists of three components: an electronic control unit (ECU), an oil control valve (OCV), and intake camshaft timing pulley (VVT pulley). Inside the VVT lie a set of helical splines that can advance or retard the intake cam relative to the exhaust cam. The helical mechanism is driven by engine oil pressure directed by the oil control valve, which responds to commands from the ECU.
 
yeah i saw that. but thats for the Lexus.

i also found that it could stand for Open Circuit Voltage

anyone know???
 
1998-2002 Chevrolet Prizm Year to Year Changes
  • 2000 Variable valve timing helped give the Prizm's 4-cylinder engine 5 extra horsepower this year. The base sedan gained standard air conditioning like the LSi, along with a 4 speaker AM/FM stereo and full wheel covers. LSi standard fare expanded to include slightly wider 185/65R14 tires, power windows, a rear defroster, tilt steering wheel, and a tachometer with outside temperature gauge.
Hope all that extra power is worth it! :roll:
 
Originally posted by: Ornery
1998-2002 Chevrolet Prizm Year to Year Changes
  • 2000 Variable valve timing helped give the Prizm's 4-cylinder engine 5 extra horsepower this year. The base sedan gained standard air conditioning like the LSi, along with a 4 speaker AM/FM stereo and full wheel covers. LSi standard fare expanded to include slightly wider 185/65R14 tires, power windows, a rear defroster, tilt steering wheel, and a tachometer with outside temperature gauge.
Hope all that extra power is worth it! :roll:
Click to expand...

you dont like Variable valve timing?

and what does this have to do w/my problem?

oh, i called up the dealership. the girl that answered the phone doesnt know what code p1656 is. she said she'll try to ask one of the service techs and give me a call back
 
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