Intermittent Check Engine Light

[jwebber]

I have a 2000 Malibu with 59K miles on it. The Check Engine light comes on intermittently. I had Goodyear look at it about year ago and they told me I need a new EGR valve. I went somewhere else to get another opinion and mechanic #2 said the EGR valve is fine.

If the light occasionally comes on but does not stay on, can I drive it that way without causing any serious damage? It seems to run fine. I would appreciate some advice on this. Thanks.

[kimskar2005]

Originally Posted by jwebber

I have a 2000 Malibu with 59K miles on it. The Check Engine light comes on intermittently. I had Goodyear look at it about year ago and they told me I need a new EGR valve. I went somewhere else to get another opinion and mechanic #2 said the EGR valve is fine.

If the light occasionally comes on but does not stay on, can I drive it that way without causing any serious damage? It seems to run fine. I would appreciate some advice on this. Thanks.

--I had this happen last year, no one could find the cause (including Chevy), and eventually after looking on the net I found that in my situation it was the ignition... that's just me- I have a 2001 Malibu-

--Kim

[aaaroadside]

you can run the car with the light on no problem if it runs ok, it wont hurt it . usually when the light comes on the code is held in the memory, so it should still be there when the put it on the scanner. but the o2 sensor can cause the lightr to come on and off, but that doesnt make the o2 sensor bad, its pickin up a bad burn in the combustion chamber . gas quality,air filter,fuel filter can cause a lean or rich burn, dont worry about it till the car actually starts runnin funny

[02malibu]

Originally Posted by aaaroadside

you can run the car with the light on no problem if it runs ok, it wont hurt it . usually when the light comes on the code is held in the memory, so it should still be there when the put it on the scanner. but the o2 sensor can cause the lightr to come on and off, but that doesnt make the o2 sensor bad, its pickin up a bad burn in the combustion chamber . gas quality,air filter,fuel filter can cause a lean or rich burn, dont worry about it till the car actually starts runnin funny

Thanks for posting this info-my car just started doing these things this weekend.

Maybe i'm just cheap or frugal, but i dont have 80 bucks to chance the chevy dealership finding something...or not finding anything.

My light came on 2 days ago, but the car runs fine. i'd like to check the things that you all mentioned as possible sources.

Please provide more insight into how you checked the ignition-thingee...or how i can get the light off. It's not intermittent, it just stays on.

PLEASE HELP!!!!

[acastleberry]

Originally Posted by 02malibu

Thanks for posting this info-my car just started doing these things this weekend.

Maybe i'm just cheap or frugal, but i dont have 80 bucks to chance the chevy dealership finding something...or not finding anything.

My light came on 2 days ago, but the car runs fine. i'd like to check the things that you all mentioned as possible sources.

Please provide more insight into how you checked the ignition-thingee...or how i can get the light off. It's not intermittent, it just stays on.

PLEASE HELP!!!!

[rant]
This forum is really a great place to come and get information, but nothing irks me more than members guessing why a check engine light comes on. There are literally thousands of reasons the light comes on, many of them having nothing to do with the engine itself. It just doesn't make sense to shoot in the dark with something that you have no idea about.
[/rant]

If you dont want to go thru the hassle of driving to the dealership every time the light somes on, borrow an OBD scanner from a friend. In fact, many of the do-it-yourself auto parts stores will scan your OBD for free, in the hopes that you will buy a part from them. As a third option, you can purchase your own at anywhere from about $80 and up.

Your first step should be to see what code the light is on for, then go from there. Many of the error codes are quite descriptive and some are not, but at least you won't be shooting in the dark.