Question for the car guys.

[Xi Bowhunter]

The service engine light came on after a hose came loose under the hood. I fixed the hose, but is there any way to manually turn off the "service engine soon" light? I am driving a 1999 chevy blazer 4x4.

[deerslayer61]

Sometimes disconnecting the battery for a few minutes, will reset the service engine soon light. I drive a Nissan and a Ford and both owners manuels say to check your gas cap first, to make sure that it's on tight. I have never heard of being able to actually turn it off. I do know that when it comes on in most vehicles, it usually means that there is a problem in the emission system.

[Feedman]

Unhook the positive battery cable, Usually 5-10 minutes should do the trick.

[quackrstackr]

Unhook the positive battery cable, Usually 5-10 minutes should do the trick.

Ditto.

I'm sure it threw a code in your computer as well but the battery trick should turn the light off unless that hose coming off caused an O2 sensor to go bad.

[carpenterguy]

Unhook the positive battery cable, Usually 5-10 minutes should do the trick.

seems to be good sound advice to me.. if it returns then you need to have it scanned. usually a hose loose wouldn't throw a trouble code, but you weren't very specific as to what kind of hose. good luck

[th5isback5]

Well usally all vehicles have that light come on after a little while. Mine comes on and goes off every know an then. My grandpa took a paper napkin an sat in front of his light. If nothing else pull dash out and take the bulb out.

[carpenterguy]

Well usally all vehicles have that light come on after a little while. Mine comes on and goes off every know an then. My grandpa took a paper napkin an sat in front of his light. If nothing else pull dash out and take the bulb out.

those lights are there for a reason. if it comes on then your vehicle has something off in it. whether it be minor enough to ignore or a major problem, service lights are there for your benefit. Not just to go off after a little while.

[treerat]

i agree with the other guys,,,,i am a retired 25 year mechanic,,,,,,,,,,,,to reset the puter on that one,,,pull the battery cable for a few minutes,,,there is 2 different types codes,,soft and hard,,,,,if it is a soft code disconnecting the battery with reset the puter,,,if it is a hard code then it won't,,,,so after you pull the cable and it comes back on then more then likely you have a hard code in the puter,,you will need to have it scanned to find the problem,,,then they will reset it throught he scanner,,,,,,hope this helps,,,

[th5isback5]

But they come on over minor things, Every car we own, the light is on and they all run fine. The light may serve a purpose but usally youll know when something is wrong with your car.

[Xi Bowhunter]

seems to be good sound advice to me.. if it returns then you need to have it scanned. usually a hose loose wouldn't throw a trouble code, but you weren't very specific as to what kind of hose. good luck
Actually I guess "hose" was the wrong term to use. I have been having a problem with the tube coming loose from the air filter box. When this end of the tube is exposed, there is a screen, then a sensor box with several wires attached to it. I am almost positive this is the problem, but I put it back on, tightened it down really well, and the light is still on. I disconnected the battery cable, but it is still on. I may have not left it disconnected for long enough though. I'll try leaving it disconnected for longer tomorrow. Thanks for all your help guys, I'll let you know if works leaving it disconnected longer tomorrow.

[quackrstackr]

I bet your MAF sensor is either dirty or damaged due to it coming loose from the filter box.

[Xi Bowhunter]

I bet your MAF sensor is either dirty or damaged due to it coming loose from the filter box.
I'm sure it is pretty dirty, no telling how long the thing was disconnected:o. Last time the hood was up was just under 2 weeks ago. Any way to SAFELY clean those things?

[treerat]

if it is the sensor i think you had the problem with,,it is the air flow sensor,,,all you can do is take low pressure compressed air and lightly blow it out,,,,if resetting the puter doesn't help,,then you need to have a scanner put on the system to make sure it is the problem,,,you might even then find the problem in the catalyst or the o2 sensor,,,

[quackrstackr]

I'm sure it is pretty dirty, no telling how long the thing was disconnected:o. Last time the hood was up was just under 2 weeks ago. Any way to SAFELY clean those things?

Q tip and some carb cleaner or alcohol with a very gentle touch.

[Xi Bowhunter]

If this light doesn't go off by disconnecting the battery, I've got a fella at a local body shop that will check it out for me I'm sure.

[Multidigits]

Buy yourself a book at Autozone, It'll tell you how to read your codes. Don't start replacing componnents you don't know you need. Autozone might be able to scan your code for you if you ask them.

[daking]

If your car has an OBD II port (most after '95) Auto Zone will scan it for free and tell you what the codes mean. Then, they'll be happy to sell you the part!

One more thing. Sometimes a weak battery will cause random error codes. Those little sensors require a certain level of voltage to operate and the 'puter looks for the difference in voltage to determine what the sensor is telling it. Low voltage will cause it to send bad info back to the 'puter. If your battery is a little weak, it will start the car but not have enough voltage to get the job done.

[Multidigits]

GM also builds in a 100,000 mile warning that will tell you that you need to take it to a dealer. You don't, they just want to change your timing belt or chain and want your money.

[droopy]

take the battery cable loose for a few min's will turn off the light,but,it will still store the code in the comp and will also probably lock the theft lock on the radio.if that happens depending on the radio you may have to take it in to dealer to get unlocked.

[Xi Bowhunter]

I put the "tube" back in the correct position, cleaned what I could clean and drove it to town this morning. The light went off on it's own, so I'm guessing that was the problem. Thanks for all the help guys.

[quackrstackr]

I just finished putting a set of plugs and coils in the '98 Malibu that I drive to work.

I figure after 145,000 miles it was about time I changed the factory plugs in the ol' gal. :eek: :D

The boots on the old coils were missing about the bottom 1/4". :eek:

May have something to do with the severe stumble that I have been experiencing when stopping for the last couple of weeks.

I may double my gas mileage now with this and the fresh air filter I put in it last weekend. Trying to figure out whether to splurge for a fuel filter or not. :D