1997 Chevy Lumina Service Engine Soon light

[madonnafargo]

A few weeks ago I ran out of gas (the floater is bad). Right after getting gas, the Service Engine Soon light was on and stayed on that afternoon and a few minutes the next morning, then went out. About 2 wks later the light came back on (stays solid, does not blink) and has stayed on. The manual indicates some sort of emmissions problem when this happens. I live in a state with emissions tested required and must do this by the end of January. Do you you think I messed up the injector or something by allowing the car to run out of gas, this light has never come on before this happened.
Thanks so much for any info you can give
Donna

[maxwedge]

Get it scanned, no way to tell without the code.

[quteasabutton]

my service engine light has been on for like 2 years now. i had the car checked out by my dad and another car guy and it's perfectly fine. so maybe it's something as simple as the light just is on.

[richtazz]

It is possible that you didn't get the gas cap on tight. GM vehicles newer than 96 have OBDII diagnostics, and a loose gas cap will trip a check engine light to come on. If you live near an Advance Auto Parts or Auto Zone, they will scan the car for you for free. Have them print out the results, and post their findings here.

[madonnafargo]

I had actually already checked the gas cap and it seemed fine. I took it today and before they scanned it they checked that also. I got a P0420 code...looks like a new cat. converter is in my near future!!! I live in TN. where we have to have the emissions test done, and of course I have to do this by the end of Jan. This couldn't have happened AFTER I had it tested??...OF COURSE NOT!!! Thank you all for your input on this!!!
Does anyone know any way around getting a new cat. converter??
It's going to be right at $400.00 to replace it w/ a Universal one and over 500.00 for a direct fit one. Does that sound about right??
Thanks again!
Donna

[madonnafargo]

Wish I had seen your post before the scan..cost me over $90.at my local Shell station!!!!!!!!

[quteasabutton]

Originally Posted by madonnafargo

Wish I had seen your post before the scan..cost me over $90.at my local Shell station!!!!!!!!

tell them you would like to do a return and see where that gets you

[madonnafargo]

What do you mean 'do a return'?

[quteasabutton]

you know how if you're not satisfied with a product you can return it to the store and get your money back? yeah it was a joke..ha..ha..oh well

[madonnafargo]

oops...I thought maybe it was some 'car term' that I wasn't familiar with... sorry...
I have thought about asking if they can take part of that fee off the repair, since they will be doing the repairs, but it's worth it to find out what was wrong and that I can drive it without worrying it will break down until I get it fixed next week
Again, thanks to all for the info.

[Katterinablu]

Are you sure it was just the cat? I still have the same code, and when I took it to Autozone they said it could be 5 different things and 1 of them was the cat. Just to be sure maybe you should take it to autozone and get a second opinion? its up to you though.

[richtazz]

the code you got, p0420 (catalyst system efficiency below threshhold) could be simpler than a catalytic converter. Have you had any other problems before this code popped up other than running out of gas? Examples include sweet or rotten egg smell to the exhaust, loss of coolant with no visible leaks, excessive steam from the exhaust, coolant/exhaust smell from under the hood or the smell of raw gas.

[madonnafargo]

Originally Posted by richtazz

the code you got, p0420 (catalyst system efficiency below threshhold) could be simpler than a catalytic converter. Have you had any other problems before this code popped up other than running out of gas? Examples include sweet or rotten egg smell to the exhaust, loss of coolant with no visible leaks, excessive steam from the exhaust, coolant/exhaust smell from under the hood or the smell of raw gas.

None of the above that I have noticed...what else could it be?

[madonnafargo]

Originally Posted by Katterinablu

Are you sure it was just the cat? I still have the same code, and when I took it to Autozone they said it could be 5 different things and 1 of them was the cat. Just to be sure maybe you should take it to autozone and get a second opinion? its up to you though.

I guess I should call around and find someone that will check it again for free maybe. What else might it be that I could do first before changing out the cat? He showed me how HIGH the reading was going, doesn't that indicate problems w/ the cat? I HATE car problems!!!

[Rubicon1]

Could also be the O2 sensor after the cat. My 97 did the same thing about two weeks ago. I cleared the code and so far it hasnt returned yet.