89 camaro engine trouble...service engine soon light

[Cbballplaya]

a couple weeks ago the service engine soon light came on in my camaro but it doesn't stay on, the light blinks on and off but only after the car warms up. I hooked up the diognostic scanner to it at school but it didn't come up with any codes. I thought maybe the O2 sensor was bad so i replaced it but i still have the same problem. I don't know if maybe i need to replace the injectors or something because the car was stored for the past 10 years and only has 33k miles on it...someone please help me out

['97SLVRBullet]

If it was stored for ten years and you just got in it and started driving, you probably just messed up alot of shit

[Cbballplaya]

Originally Posted by '97SLVRBullet

If it was stored for ten years and you just got in it and started driving, you probably just messed up alot of shit

I have only had the car for a couple of months but the owner before me is the original owner he stored it every winter and he barely drove it in summer because he could walk to work, so i was thinking maybe there could be some build up in the injectors.

[panchoman]

hey bro i got a 89RS 43k miles, it did the same thing and then i found out my alternator was not working properly(found out the hard way)so i replaced it and it stoped.....my dads taurus had the same thing that one was easy to fix....see what u do is put a bandaid over the light...the trick is to get a big enough one to cover the whole thing....hahaha


....
i would take it to a pro see what they say

[Cbballplaya]

when your car was doing it would the car shake like you were tapping the gas peddal? Whenever the light starts to blink the car shakes a little bit and the rpms jump, that's why i was thinking it was more of a fuel system problem than an ignition problem

[89IROC&RS]

run the car for codes, it will tell you what is wrong with it. you can use a paper clip and your DLC. i am getting ready for class, but ill hook you up with the details later.

[Dober89]

Q: How can I display the error codes from a Service Engine Light?

A: If your car does not have the 12 pin DLC connector, you may not be able to manually "flash" your trouble codes. The language "may be possible" appears to suggest that this method should work with most, if not all, 12 pin DLC equipped cars.

THE CONNECTOR


-----------------------
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 |
| 7 8 9 10 11 12 |
-----------------------


DISPLAYING THE TROUBLE CODES
Run a wire/hairpin from Pin 6 to Pin 12 with the ignition off (although on later cars it should be from Pin 5 to Pin 6), then turning the ignition to the on position without starting the engine will flash the "Service Engine Soon" light in the following sequence: flash, pause, flash-flash, long pause flash, pause, flash-flash, long pause flash, pause, flash-flash, long pause Following this "12" code repeating three times will come any trouble codes stored, flashing each of them three times. If you do not see the "12" flash three times, your diagnostic circuit is defective.



On my 89 I had to use pins 5 and 6 to get codes.

This was taken from http://www.thirdgen.org/newdesign/faq/thirdgen.shtml

[4onFloor]

i think on his 89 the pins are labled with letters. it's the top right to pins on the aldl connector under the steering wheel. i believe it's pins A and B

[panchoman]

Originally Posted by Cbballplaya

when your car was doing it would the car shake like you were tapping the gas peddal? Whenever the light starts to blink the car shakes a little bit and the rpms jump, that's why i was thinking it was more of a fuel system problem than an ignition problem

when my car's light was flashing like that my car jumped a little to sort of like when you let go of the clutch to fast and it almost turns off...this got gradually worse untill i changed the alternator cus it completly stopped working

[avalongod]

Not sure if this is true for cars back as far as 89, but a flashing engine light usually is indicating a "serious misfire", and the recommendation is usually to turn off the engine. I am no car expert, but I believe continuing to operate the car with such misfiring can damage the catalytic converter.

[Genopsyde]

well if what avalongod says is true, and what you say about the car sitting for a long time is true, then you probably need a full tune up, plugs, wires, cap, rotor.

[89IROC&RS]

the engine is not running when you flash codes.

when you sit in the car, engine off, turn the key to the on position, you will note the check engine light is on constant, this is because the ECM see's a signal from the ignition without a signal from the tach, meaning that there is an error, this is a code 12, no tach signal. this is normal.

now, turn the key off, wire the terminal A to terminal B with a paperclip or jumper wire, ( or terminal 5 and 6 if using the numeric schematic above) and turn the key back on. engine dead. you will see the check engine light start to flash, once, twice, once, twice, once, twice, indicating the code 12, it flashes every code three times, then for instance, you will see the flash, four times, twice, four times, twice, four times, twice, indicating a code 42, this means that you have a code 42, the 12 can be ignored because its normal to have that while the key is on and the engine is off. when it flashes code 12 again, it means your done, and its just going through the cycle of codes again.

so no, this is not bad for your car, i do it all the time, its alot easier than using the TECH 1 to diagnose codes, and i can do it anywhere.

[89IROC&RS]

also, ive never heard of this flashing engine light meaning to turn off an engine due to a P300 code before.

[Cbballplaya]

hey guys thanks for your help but the problem was actually the fuel filter....i replaced it and everything is fine again...thanks for your help

[89IROC&RS]

good find, job well done