I just recently moved and now park my car outside. In the Northeast the weather has been considerably cold and it snowed for the past two days. My car was pretty cold and the doors were frozen shut. I finally got in and drove around and a check engine light came on. I havent done anything new to my car in about 6-7 months and I am wondering why the CEL came on...Any ideas ?

 

Which DTC? What was the temperature?

d

 

I've gotten CEL's from the car running too cold for too long.

bryan

 

I've run for hours at 0-5F with no trouble whatsoever. I would get that DTC [diagnostic trouble code] pulled though. You might have ice clogging something up.

d

 

I bet is is PO171 System Too Lean. I have been getting this one a lot lately. Only at idle and only when it is very cold out. I think it has something to do with the interaction between your reflash and closed loop fueling. I have a UTEC with wideband tuner so I know that it is not a real problem. I have just been clearing the code after it happens with an OBD II scanner. I think Autozone and Pep Boys will scan it for free.

 

how do i get my DTC code ? Im gonna reset the ECU and see if it comes back, I reset the ECU by unplugging the battery and pumping the brakes right ?

 

pumping the brakes? i havent heard that one yet

 

haha, no need to pump the brakes, only when ya bleed the brakes 8- ) But yea just disconnect the negative terminal on the battery and a minute or so and thats it.

 

hmm I forget where I saw that. It has to be because of the ice though, because there is ice all stuck on my car. They didn't plow my parking lot at all. People getting stuck left and right.

 

Holding down the brakes will discharge an residual energy after disconnecting the battery. I personally don't think it makes much of a difference, but it's often recommended.

Anyway, you'll need an OBD-II scantool to read the codes off the ECU. As previously mentioned, autozone or pepboys will probably let you use theirs for free. Almost any garage would also read it for you for a nominal fee. Third, there's probably an evom member in your area who could help you out.

EDIT: a good place to get started:

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/aut...ine-light1.asp


d

 

FYI. You can buy a scan tool at Pep Boys for about $90. It is a good tool to have. Also I would never recomend resetting the ECU without first knowing why you through a code in the first place.