1993 Sable "Check Engine" Light

[SidewinderX]

Hello,

Here's my problem.

I'm driving home from school today, and I start my car and the engine seems a bit off... it seemed to jump about 250rpms at times... I'm driving through the parking lot, and I slow down to make a turn and the RPMs drop below 500rpms, so I stop the car and restart. The engine seemed a bit wierd, but I kept driving, and then the "Check Engine" light came on. It bothered me, but I had to get home, so I figured I'd try and get home anyway.

So I'm accelerating and I hit about 55 and I stay around there. At this point the engine seems fine, and it's staying right around 2000rpms where it usually is.

The Check engine light also is one for a little bit, and then it's off. (It's on for at least 30 seconds) For the remaining 5 minutes till I get home it does that.

I park in my driveway and leave the car idling while I look up in the manuel what the check engine light means, and the manuel just says that if it remains on that there might be a problem with the emissions system, or something to that effect.

While I'm idling the engine doesn't sound horrible... it's just a bit less regular than it usually is. And there are slight variations in the RPMs while I idle... not enought to really quantify it, the needle is just jumping around a bit on the tach.


So, all of that leads to my question: Does anyone know what this might be? And do I need to worry about it? I have about 70 miles of driving that I have to do tomarrow, so do ya'll think it's something that I can safley ignore until Wednesday, or is it something that I need to get checked ASAP?

Thanks!

[sumhotguy]

i have a 93 sable as well. it has a problem that the check engine light comes on because it has a faulty o2 sensor, but it sounds like you are having a real problem. if the rpms are jumping like that youre transmission may be wearing out. does the car jerk while you accelerate? if that happens youre transmission is going. mine is going and i will be replacing in the next couple weeks. it would be the same as if ou were driving to fast on snow when the tires slip the rpms jump up and down spiratically. and if youre tranny is failing i hope you do your work yourself because it will cost you about $2000 to have someone replace it for you, and the transmission costs about 400 dollars so its all labor. good luck

[SidewinderX]

Thanks for replying. Turns out my oil was dangerously low. I don't know why the check engine light came on and not the oil light.... but whatever.

Put a quart in, and now it runs like butta.