Check Engine Light, What is the Deal!!!

[QuickStangGT]

I have a 2000Gt that I bought about 3 months ago (used). The check engine light stays on. The only thing that I know that car has is a set of flowmasters. It still has the stock H pipe. Why is this light on??? I unplugged the battery and reset the computer, but no luck. It stayed off for a day or two, and then came right back on. I have been told that this puts the car in "limp mode" and I am actually losing performance. Is there any truth to that? Any Suggestions on how to fix it?????

Thanks!

Luke

 

[csledd]

just because the SES light is on doesn't mean your car is in "limp mode". What you need to do is take it to Autozone and let them pull the code so you can find out why it's throwing the code.

 

[nex2nutin]

get the code...limp mode isnt really a bad thing just helps the car stay on the road so you can get it fixed.

 

[forpit2000gt]

have you washed your engine?

 

[Skidzz]

Just have autozone check it. Get it fixed, but you get in too big a hurry. If it were something really bad, the light wouldn't go off and come back on. It would stay on. Also if something is really wrong, you're usually going to be able to tell with or w/o the check engine light on. Its probably just some emissions BS. My car is doing the same damn thing right now. It's throwing a code 1441, which has something to do with evap. Now I have to have a smoke test ran on it to fix the problem .

 

[nex2nutin]

you really dont have to smoke test your car for the leak. get a vacuum pump and test each section. Get the line from the gas tank going to the evap and pinch one end and make vacuum. see if it holds. do the same for the other line coming out of the evap and into your intake. There is also a test port on the evap that you can plug the vacuum pump into to see if the vacuum is holding. Also make sure that your soleniod valve on the evap is moving.

of couse this is only if you want to try to fix it yourself.

 

[Skidzz]

you really dont have to smoke test your car for the leak. get a vacuum pump and test each section. Get the line from the gas tank going to the evap and pinch one end and make vacuum. see if it holds. do the same for the other line coming out of the evap and into your intake. There is also a test port on the evap that you can plug the vacuum pump into to see if the vacuum is holding. Also make sure that your soleniod valve on the evap is moving.

of couse this is only if you want to try to fix it yourself.

Ok thanks, I'm always willing to TRY to fix it myself. If I can't do it, THEN I'll take it to the shop. Thanks again, didn't know I could do all that.

 

[forpit2000gt]

My car did this before because water was aroung the COP after washing. Code was a misfire code and happen on a couple of cylinders. I could reset and it came back within a day.
The code 1441?? I thought that is the code I had once when the gas cap wasn't tight once. Maybe not but the gas cap can light the SES.

 

[nex2nutin]

there are a lot of things with the evap...but doing that can narrow it down for you. You might want to see if getting a new gas cap can help too. They can go bad and trip an EVAP code as well. EVAP code usually means that there is to much pressure in the tank or too little or that the PCM is not noticing any difference in fuel trim when the solenoid is engaging.

 

[Skidzz]

Well then I guess I'm buying a gas cap. It's cheap and it can't hurt so why not....

 

[2000BLKGT]

Get the codes pulled and get it fixed.

It's probably some sort of sensor that's called it a day.

When the SES light is on, your car automatically runs rich. So you're getting crappy gas mileage.

And if one sensor isn't performing, then the entire system isn't functioning properly...so it could lead to future issues if not addressed.

my 2 cents

 

[QuickStangGT]

Thanks for all the input! How much will it cost to get the code pulled??? I have never done that before. I guess I am a bad parent. I just try not to pay attention to it. I really do want to get it fixed, but I just assumed it was something to do with the emissions. Thanks for all the help!

 

[fiveofanatic]

QuickStangGT, go to an Auto Zone parts store, & they will tell you what code you have for free. No one here can give you any worthwhile advice without you telling us what code you have first.

 

[fiveofanatic]

Skidzz, double check your code. I can't find anything on a P1441; the first code in the evap system is a P1442. I don't think P1441 is a valid number.

 

[hotdog71]

I have had two Evap problems with mine not at the same time.
One was in the neck of the filler hose and Ford took care of this one free and the the second one was the Evap hoes under the car I have an after market pumpkin cover and it crushed the hose. Ford told me what it was and I replaced the hose cost me $50+ tax from Ford reset the EEC and code gone.

 

[QuickStangGT]

Thanks for the help, I'll run to Advanced tommorrow and get that code. Hopefully it is something silly.

 

[QuickStangGT]

OK here is the deal. I got all the (yes I said all) the codes pulled for my car.

P0135
Bank 1 Sensor 1 Heater Circuit Malfunction
P0141
Bank 1 Sensor 2 Heater Circuit Malfunction
P1131
Fuel and Air Metering ???
P0174
System too Lean Bank 2

WHAT DO I DO?!?!?!?!?!?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[EPIK]

My check engine light comes on every couple of weeks in my 96 gt. It is most likely an emissions issue. My pops has a diagnostic reader which says my car has " insufficient egr flow" which is no big deal so I erase the codes. You should definately get it checked out asap because you never know it could be something serious. But like I said its most likely some emissions b.s.

 

[NYStang2002]

My check engine light comes on every couple of weeks in my 96 gt. It is most likely an emissions issue. My pops has a diagnostic reader which says my car has " insufficient egr flow" which is no big deal so I erase the codes. You should definately get it checked out asap because you never know it could be something serious. But like I said its most likely some emissions b.s.

I had this EGR code come up last year and it turned out to be a bad rubber elbow that connects to the EGR valve. IMO no code should be taken lightly and erased just because you think its not a big deal. Talk about bad adise!

 

[Indy_00GT]

OK here is the deal. I got all the (yes I said all) the codes pulled for my car.

P0135
Bank 1 Sensor 1 Heater Circuit Malfunction
P0141
Bank 1 Sensor 2 Heater Circuit Malfunction
P1131
Fuel and Air Metering ???
P0174
System too Lean Bank 2

WHAT DO I DO?!?!?!?!?!?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

I'm not a pro at this, but I am going to take a GUESS (please don't flame me!).

Bank one means passenger side - I think!
Sensor 1 is the O2 sensor nearest to the headers (on the H pipe)
Sensor 2 is the other O2 sensor on the mid pipe.

I don't know about the P0174...

I had the same codes when I put a pro-chamber on and the MIL eliminator got wet...