YACT: Service Engine Soon dummy light. Set at the factory?

[Led Zeppelin]

2001 Pontiac Grand Am, 3.4L, V6, 53,003 miles. Does anyone know if this vehicle, like many other vehicles out there, have this dummy light factory set to go off at a certain point, or could there possibly be a real engine problem that needs to be checked out asap?

 

Not one vehicle manufacturer makes these lights go off at a certain intervals, the light only goes off when a problem arises.

Now change oil soon or service soon is a different story.


Three different types of lights ;

Service engine soon <--- requires maintenance (possible problem)
Change oil <--- self explanatory
check engine <---- problem

 

[iamwiz82]

gas cap not tightened completely? I just did this on mine?

 

[Led Zeppelin]

Originally posted by: Roger
Not one vehicle manufacturer makes these lights go off at a certain intervals, the light only goes off when a problem arises.

Now change oil soon or service soon is a different story.

Hmm, that must be another urban legend then. People at work believe the same thing (that it's factory set).

Thanks Roger, gonna get it checked out.

 

[Led Zeppelin]

Hmmm, I'm going to have to break out my owners manual and check to see if there are two different lights for "Check Engine" and "Service Engine Soon".

Not tightening the gas cap all the way would make the service engine soon light come on?

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: Roger
Not one vehicle manufacturer makes these lights go off at a certain intervals, the light only goes off when a problem arises.

Now change oil soon or service soon is a different story.


Three different types of lights ;

Service engine soon <--- requires maintenance (possible problem)
Change oil <--- self explanatory
check engine <---- problem

Not sure if "these lights" refers to a specific set of dashboard lights, but Honda has a "Maintenance Required" light that after 8000 miles blinks when you start the car, and comes on solid after 10000 miles. They've been using it for at least 7 years.

 

[NesuD]

Originally posted by: BostonRedSox
Hmmm, I'm going to have to break out my owners manual and check to see if there are two different lights for "Check Engine" and "Service Engine Soon".

Not tightening the gas cap all the way would make the service engine soon light come on?

Yea it sure does. The fuel system is pressurized and if the onboard detects an incorrect system pressure then it will activate the check engine light. Go click that cap 3 times and see if it goes away.

 

[BrianA]

Not sure if "these lights" refers to a specific set of dashboard lights, but Honda has a "Maintenance Required" light that after 8000 miles blinks when you start the car, and comes on solid after 10000 miles. They've been using it for at least 7 years.

Yep. Both my Hondas do this at the factory-suggested maintenance points (10K miles, 20K miles, etc), but I think it's "Maintenace Requested", not "Maintenance Required" (the light actaully says "Maint Req").

The Owner's Manual includes instructions on how to turn it off.

 

[SP33Demon]

I had a check engine light in my Toyota b/c I had to replace one of my oxygen sensors at around 130K miles. Although my mechanic said he could manually turn it off before NJ State inspection with something that can reset the ODBII codes for the car.

 

[dman]

If the light comes on, with OBDII you should be able to pull a code why. Some cars have a trick that you can do that flashes the lights in the dash to indicate the code number, for example, on a Dodge Neon you can turn the key to the on position, off, on, off, on and the service engine soon will start flashing.

On other manuf. it may be a different method, or you might need a tool but worth looking into as it may help you determine what is wrong and whether or not you want to tackle fixing it.

 

[RaiderJ]

Originally posted by: NesuD

Originally posted by: BostonRedSox
Hmmm, I'm going to have to break out my owners manual and check to see if there are two different lights for "Check Engine" and "Service Engine Soon".

Not tightening the gas cap all the way would make the service engine soon light come on?

Yea it sure does. The fuel system is pressurized and if the onboard detects an incorrect system pressure then it will activate the check engine light. Go click that cap 3 times and see if it goes away.

I work at a Subaru dealership and I've seen a few come in for the same thing. A check engine light isn't always something to get overly concerned about (but is worth checking out). You should be able to go to a dealership and have them diagnose that light for a small fee, if any.

 

[shekondar]

Originally posted by: dman
If the light comes on, with OBDII you should be able to pull a code why. Some cars have a trick that you can do that flashes the lights in the dash to indicate the code number, for example, on a Dodge Neon you can turn the key to the on position, off, on, off, on and the service engine soon will start flashing.

On other manuf. it may be a different method, or you might need a tool but worth looking into as it may help you determine what is wrong and whether or not you want to tackle fixing it.

AutoZone used to do this for free (I'm not sure if they still do or not)

 

[ViperMagic]

Originally posted by: shekondar

Originally posted by: dman
If the light comes on, with OBDII you should be able to pull a code why. Some cars have a trick that you can do that flashes the lights in the dash to indicate the code number, for example, on a Dodge Neon you can turn the key to the on position, off, on, off, on and the service engine soon will start flashing.

On other manuf. it may be a different method, or you might need a tool but worth looking into as it may help you determine what is wrong and whether or not you want to tackle fixing it.

AutoZone used to do this for free (I'm not sure if they still do or not)

They do around here.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: Roger
Not one vehicle manufacturer makes these lights go off at a certain intervals, the light only goes off when a problem arises.

Now change oil soon or service soon is a different story.


Three different types of lights ;

Service engine soon <--- requires maintenance (possible problem)
Change oil <--- self explanatory
check engine <---- problem

Not sure if "these lights" refers to a specific set of dashboard lights, but Honda has a "Maintenance Required" light that after 8000 miles blinks when you start the car, and comes on solid after 10000 miles. They've been using it for at least 7 years.

They also have a check engine light that comes on if there's an actual problem.

 

[CraigRT]

I'd get it checked out.. I try not to drive any distance with those lights on
then again any car I've owned, I've never had the problem once.. LOL

 

[RU482]

if you drive around and the car is still running ok, it's probably just some sensor gone bad

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: Roger
Not one vehicle manufacturer makes these lights go off at a certain intervals, the light only goes off when a problem arises.

Now change oil soon or service soon is a different story.


Three different types of lights ;

Service engine soon <--- requires maintenance (possible problem)
Change oil <--- self explanatory
check engine <---- problem

Not sure if "these lights" refers to a specific set of dashboard lights, but Honda has a "Maintenance Required" light that after 8000 miles blinks when you start the car, and comes on solid after 10000 miles. They've been using it for at least 7 years.

They also have a check engine light that comes on if there's an actual problem.

Just trying to figure if I'm misunderstanding Roger's post b/c it reads to me like no manufacturer has any dashboard lights that go on after so many miles.

 

Let me set you straight, some vehicles have service and oil change soon lights that tells you to either do a oil change and/or do a tuneup/maintenance.

Look in your owners manual