Service Engine Soon(I hate OBDI)

Hello all,
Great Forum. I just bought my son a '95 Cutlass Supreme SL Coupe with the 3100SFI after his '93 4door Cutlass was T-Boned and totaled by a Bone Head that thought a Stop sign was just a suggestion.

This "new " car has only 70K miles and is beautiful. Sounds good right, so what's the problem?

The SES came on and I could't check the codes with my Actron since it's an OBDI car. This light comes on after decelerating from the expressway or from normal street driving.

After restarting the car, the light is out until after the same decelerating from normal driving. Then it comes back on.

After reading all these posts, I replaced the EGR and all seemed well but, it has started the samething again plus what seems to be a slight loss of power during acceleration. I've replaced the plugs, wires and tomorrow will change the fuel filter.

I'm interested in how to clean the EGR passages without causing a terminal meltdown. If I take the EGR off again, can I spray carb cleaner into the block passages without causing a possible build-up of carbon junk going back into the manifold or destroying the Cats and EGR itself? Has anyone else done this cleanout? This has the 3 coil electronic EGR.

Thanks for the help...75Trump

You need to know the error code first.

If this vehicle is an OBDI then it is probably the same way I get my Engine trouble code for the 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme by putting a jumper wire between the A and B on the connector and then turn the ignition to the ON position. The check engine light will display code 12 by blinking once then pause then blink twice (it will repeat this 3 times) and then the error code will be displayed and then back to code 12. Remove the jumper wire and turn the ignition to OFF.

Thanks Slade901,
I already tried that with the paperclip trick, but no mettalic pin in the connector for the side that would be the "b" side I think. Only a pin in the upper right port. Counting left to right, it would be the 6th spot on the upper half.

I saw something in these posts about OBDI.5. Would mean that a regular OBDI scanner wont read these codes? I'm getting ready to purchase a Scanner for this car.

Could I use carb cleaner or something else in the engine block passages to the EGR for the possible carbon build-up?

I use stiff wire to clean the passage ways of the EGR to the intake manifold and from the exhaust side of the EGR and clean it with Carb cleaner. I let the Carb cleaner dry up for a couple minutes specially if some of the carb cleaner got inside the intake manifold.

BTW, bring your vehicle to Autozone and have them scan any error code of your vehicle for "FREE".

Thanks again. I did what you suggested and the passages are nice and clean now. So far, no more codes.

The EGR did seem to have a "sticky" valve as well so I cleaned the 3 spring loaded ports too.

I did try the local AutoZone and they will only test the OBDII cars. As soon as I said 1995, the clerk said to go to a dealer for the code readouts. Hmmm...I guess nobobdy is expected to drive a 10 year or older car?!!

I am getting an OBDI and II sacnner for my own piece of mind. Any suggestions of a good model? I'm thinking the KAL9640B or the AutoXray5000.

Happy New Year...75Trump

I have same problem (SES light comes on after deceleration) with same car (95 Cutlass supreme 3.1L). I had the codes read by a friend a month ago and the only one that came up was for fault in fuel injector #5. Still runs fine, so I am waiting for the weather to warm up before I replace it.

Those computer controlled EGRs are notorious for getting dirty and hanging up. You can disassemble the valve itself and clean it up if you are careful. Yes you can use Clean-R-Carb on it and the passages. Just be sure that the springs and such go into the ports they came out of when you put it back together.

Thanks everyone, The "light" came back on last night after exiting the expressway...Yeesh. After I get a scanner to get the codes and RE-clean the EGR as 1989Buickguy suggested, I'll get back with the results.
P.S. To Maxtone Witherball. Did your ses light go away after the next start-up? I am hoping that when this Cutlass acts up again, I can catch the code before it goes away.

Dude, the computer stores all codes. Of course with your in between OBD, I'm not sure how you would access them.

Good luck.

Did your ses light go away after the next start-up?

Yes, the light always goes away on the next start-up. It only comes on after I have been driving for a while and take my foot off the gas to stop or slow down. Then it stays on til I shut off the engine.

The code indicates only a faulty fuel injector. But the engine runs great and I have not noticed any misfires. I plan to replace the injector to see if that takes care of the ses light, but I do not have a heated garage so I am waiting til it gets warm out.

Quick question, where did you buy the scanner and how much was it? im interested in getting one. thanks

I have an Actron 9135 scanner that checks for OBDII only. I can get a model 9145 from the local Advance Auto Parts, but they will need to order it so I might order it from Actron directly. The only problem is that even tho the 9145 is capable of reading OBD I, you have to purchase the software separately for all the functions. They run around $200. I have been watching E-Bay under Diagnostic Tools in the automobiles section. Dizzying array of scanners and readers.