Service Engine Soon light stays on

[kmh914]

Hi:

This morning after I had driven about 1/4 mile in my 2000 Grand Am SE 6cyl (52k miles) all the dashboard indicator lights came on again as they normally would when you first start up the car. After about 2 seconds they went off, the car continued to drive fine. Then when I started it up to drive home this evening the Service Engine Soon light came on and I noticed that all the indicator gauges (fuel level, MPH, rpm, etc.) had dropped to zero! The car continued to drive normally, no loss of power or control. After about 2 miles the gauges started registering again but the Service Engine Soon light stayed on all the 9 miles back home. I let the car sit for 1/2 hour then started it up again, same thing happened with the SES light and gauges. Fortunately I'd already planned to take her in for an oil change tomorrow; hopefully she'll make it that far! Any idea what's up? The manual says that I may have gotten the electrical system wet from driving through a puddle, which is a possibility since we just had a big snowstorm here in northern new mexico and now it's all melting. I know she's overdue for her oil change, the sticker from the last one fell off and I think it's been just over 5k miles since then. Is this her way of telling me to get her to the garage??

Thanks!

[FormulaLT1]

Get it scanned, Autozone does it for free. I am sure it has some clue stored into it as to what is going wrong.

John

[Degtr]

I had something similar happen and it turned out that the connection between the body control module and the ignition switch had worked its way loose at the ignition switch. Under the right conditions, contact was lost and the BCM no longer registered that the car was on. I'd lose all of my gauges as well as other electronics that operate only when the key is in the ON position like cruise control and HVAC, but since the ECM knew the engine was running and the BCM thought the car was off, I'd get a service engine light. After tightening everything up again, the light went off after two or three "normal" trips. Can't say for sure whether you have the same problem, but very often when lights and gauges are doing strange things, it's a BCM or ignition switch problem.

[kmh914]

This morning when I started her up (her name is Esmerelda, spanish for 'emerald' cause she's emerald green; silly I know &:-) everything was back to normal, gauges ok and SES light didn't stay on. right now she's at the garage getting an oil change. I'll call them up and let them know about your suggestion.

Thanks everyone!

Originally Posted by Degtr

I had something similar happen and it turned out that the connection between the body control module and the ignition switch had worked its way loose at the ignition switch. Under the right conditions, contact was lost and the BCM no longer registered that the car was on. I'd lose all of my gauges as well as other electronics that operate only when the key is in the ON position like cruise control and HVAC, but since the ECM knew the engine was running and the BCM thought the car was off, I'd get a service engine light. After tightening everything up again, the light went off after two or three "normal" trips. Can't say for sure whether you have the same problem, but very often when lights and gauges are doing strange things, it's a BCM or ignition switch problem.

[The Right Formula]

Originally Posted by FormulaLT1

Get it scanned, Autozone does it for free. I am sure it has some clue stored into it as to what is going wrong.

John

Agreed. When in doubt, AutoZone is your best friend for pulling codes.

--Jay

[kmh914]

Hi all:

will definitely have AutoZone pull the codes for Esmerelda and will submit them for diciphering to you great folks on AF/GA, specially now that the 'Change Oil' light came on and stays on, 4 days AFTER I had the oil changed!

Cheers!

[The Right Formula]

Originally Posted by kmh914

Hi all:

will definitely have AutoZone pull the codes for Esmerelda and will submit them for diciphering to you great folks on AF/GA, specially now that the 'Change Oil' light came on and stays on, 4 days AFTER I had the oil changed!

Cheers!

Did you reset the system?

Look in the owner's manual to find out how to reset the Oil Life Monitor. The computer will into account driving conditions (stop and go vs highway), miles, time, and how long it's been since the system was reset. It will then estimate about when you need your oil changed. However, after you do get it changed, the computer doesn't know and needs to be 'told' by resetting the system. It's very easy - usually only takes about 15 seconds.

--Jay

[kmh914]

Thanks, Jay!

Originally Posted by The Right Formula

Did you reset the system?

Look in the owner's manual to find out how to reset the Oil Life Monitor. The computer will into account driving conditions (stop and go vs highway), miles, time, and how long it's been since the system was reset. It will then estimate about when you need your oil changed. However, after you do get it changed, the computer doesn't know and needs to be 'told' by resetting the system. It's very easy - usually only takes about 15 seconds.

--Jay

[The Right Formula]

No problem. Let us know after you have it all set.