Check Engine code - 97 Astro van

Hi - This is my first time posting. My 1997 Astro van has been coding the check engine light which has been coming off & on over the past 6 months. It seems to set the code when the engine is under load i.e. air conditioner on or heading into headwind. The engine seems to run well & gas consumption is reasonable. When I called the dealer they tell me I have to spend $ 50 to check the code and then refuse to give a reasonable idea of what it may cost to fix the problem. I know it may be a number of things including oxygen sensors or virtually nothing at all. Is it worth the expense of having the code checked? Has anyone had similar problems and what have you done?

Txs

Lawrence

the light will not come on for nothing. you have a problem. it is up to you. what do you want?it will you cost you money. pay now or later.

Autozone should do it for nothing.

Definatly go to AutoZone and have it checked. My 97 Astro had the O2 sensor and mass airflow sensor codes register. I was poking around online doing a google search to find out what a MAFS was and it saved me a couple hundred dollars. Basically pull the MAFS out from inbetween the air filter and engine. Clean the tiny tiny wires in there with a tooth brush and some throttle body cleaner. MAFS senses the amount of air flowing across the wires by measuring the amount of voltage required to keep those wires at a certain tempature. Over a couple of years it would fall on its face as if to loose 4 cylinders for the first 10th of a mile. Runs like a dream now. Just guessing but its worth a try. Oh, and I got the right O2 sensor the first time!!!!!

If your Van is still running well then you might just need to replace the Gas Cap to get the light to go out.