97 service engine light just turned on... any ideas?

[PMF]

Hey all, I was just driving on the freeway doing like 60 waiting for a friend to catch up, and on pops the service engine light... nothing obviously wrong that I see. Is there any way to diagnose it without getting a code reader? Are there any common issues that would turn on the light that I could check before taking it in?

To give a little history on the car… It’s at around 76k miles, done all the services, oil changes, etc... No problems so far...

Any ideas?

[KC q45t]

HI: Need to check and make sure your gas cap is on securely, or not wore out. With out a proper pressurization will cause the light to come on. May have to get a computer read-out. Hope everything works out.

[maxnix]

1.) Is there any way to diagnose it without getting a code reader?

2.) It’s at around 76k miles, done all the services, oil changes, etc... No problems so far...

3.) Any ideas?

1.) OBD II scanners are your friend. Use them.

2.) OK, so plugs are new, filter changes annually, Differential, brake PS coolant and ATF mechanically exchanged /drained and refilled every 2 years 24K miles at a minimum? TB, EGR, IAC and plenum cleaned, kncluding that nasty little EGR tube in the plenum? Auxiliary ATF cooler installed?

3.) Seee 1.)

[PMF]

I thought about the cap, and I remember when it was smogged last year, the guy had to try twice to get the cap to pressurize properly. I checked to make sure it was on, but it might not be pressurizing fully. I remember before when I would unscrew the gas cap, I would hear the tank unpressurize; now I do not.

The plugs are new, as well as the filter. The differential and ATF are scheduled soon. I am not sure when the last time they were changed, but I have scheduled them before the summer. No Auxiliary ATF cooler installed. Do I need one? Which would you suggest? How hard are they to install? I can put it in when I change the ATF. I need to see if everything else is clean though.

Thanks for all the help...

[Qproject]

get the ODB2 codes and reply back with the codes it's giving you.