"ETS Off" Light and "Check Engine" Light stay on!

[lordfritter]

During a day of long driving, (100 miles here and 100 miles there), half way back to my house, my 'ETS Off' and the 'Check Engine' Lights came on. Now, I must ask, Why!? The car seems to be running just like it did long before the lights shone in my dash (except for the fact that the ETS won't come back on). How can I figure out what's causing this... without taking the car to the GM dealer near me and getting taken for my last few pennies...?

[GMMerlin]

The PCM has seen a fault in the system and has set a trouble code...could be a sensor problem, wiring problem.
You will need to have the code pulled out of the PCM and have the fault diagnosed and repaired.
Some of your autoparts stores have code readers.
Let us know what the code is and we can go from there.

Information provided by a dealer tech...and didn't cost you a dime

[Leah525]

Autozone can run the codes for free. My Sister had the same problem and the problem with hers was it was misfiring in the 1st cylinder. She waited to get it checked out and now cannot get it fixed.

[lordfritter]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I'm going to check it out tomorrow and see what you all think.

[Flatrater]

Originally Posted by GMMerlin

Information provided by a dealer tech...and didn't cost you a dime

Seems like a lot of free dealer advice is given out here in this forum!!

[goldbull]

Just had this happen to our 96 GA this week. Turns out the back O2 sensor is to blame. Seems it shorted out (check engine light) and took out the ETS in the process.

[rowser]

My 96 Grand Am does this same thing, usually first thing in the morning, about once every couple months or so. The car seems to run rough, like it's getting to much fuel, then clears itself up and runs fine. I can get the "check engine light to go Off and the ETS to function again by disconnecting the battery for a few minutes. Then it's back to normal.

[GMMerlin]

Originally Posted by rowser

My 96 Grand Am does this same thing, usually first thing in the morning, about once every couple months or so. The car seems to run rough, like it's getting to much fuel, then clears itself up and runs fine. I can get the "check engine light to go Off and the ETS to function again by disconnecting the battery for a few minutes. Then it's back to normal.

The problem is you are not fixing the problem but just masking it by turning off the light.
The best thing is to have the problem diagnosed and repaired by a knowledgable and trustworthy certified technician.

[Bob Pitchford]

Originally Posted by rowser

My 96 Grand Am does this same thing, usually first thing in the morning, about once every couple months or so. The car seems to run rough, like it's getting to much fuel, then clears itself up and runs fine. I can get the "check engine light to go Off and the ETS to function again by disconnecting the battery for a few minutes. Then it's back to normal.

97 Grand Am SE 2.3L engine 75,500 miles
Engine will stall one a day when first driven, usually at a stop sign. After restarting, the check engine light and ETS lights will go on steady. The engine will run fine for a few days and usually after a fill of gas, the lights go out.
Have made the mistake to take it into the local GM dealer. The dealer said the code pointed to an ignition problem. The car was returned after a $245.00 tune up. The process repeated itself after 1 day. The car was retuned to the dealer after 2 days, (light reset on the way to the dealer after filling with gas) and was told that injector #2 needed to be replaced. The car was returned with a new injector for $250.00
The next morning the car quit at the stop sign and the lights came on again. I've added more gas but the light is still on. Any Ideas, the car has 75,500 miles on it.
I thought I might take it to the local AutoZone to see if the could try a scan tool on it.

[Flatrater]

Will need a code number to help you out!

[Bob Pitchford]

The code was listed as P0302 #2 misfire. The guy at autozone asked if the plugs were changed with the tune up. Although it was not listed on the workorder, I pulled the plugs and they were obviously new. I swapped the two outside plug boots with the two inside ones. (thinking that if there was a problem with the boot, the code would change) I also noticed dirt in the ignition driver connector. I cleaned the connector, replace it, and started the engine. The Ck engine light was still on. I then disconnected the battery negative terminal for a minute. Restarted the engine, and the light went out for a short time, came back on again, and after about 2 miles driving the light is off.

It now has 3 days driving and about 70 miles with the light off. Today the engine stalled at a stop sign and after restart the check engine light & ETC light came back on again. A trip back to Autozone and their code reader show the same code, P0302 #2 misfire.

Any other suggestions?

[frekey]

the same happened to my car and it ended up being the tranny!

[Mr. Luos]

Originally Posted by frekey

the same happened to my car and it ended up being the tranny!

Your tranny was causing a misfire on Cylinder #2??


I would check the coils.