Service Engine Soon Light @ 88K miles

[tjs5012]

does anyone know if this is a pre programed milage for the light to turn on to get you to service it or is this an actual error message. also, the dealership here says it can be between $43 and $100 to diagnose the cause. How can it be a $60 difference to read the OBDII?

[marlin29311]

Take it to an autozone or the like to have them read the code for free - then we can research what's going on a little more - the SES light doesn't come on for maintnence - it only comes on for a problem.

[nafddur]

Or just check the code(s) and then reset the SES light yourself using the accelerator pedal method (detailed in the EC section of the service manual - pages EC-63-65 in my 04 manual).

That's what I did several years ago (was a 2135, TPS code in my case) and after resetting the light, the code never came back. The code could be a fluke the first time you get it. If the same code comes back again, then you know you have a problem that needs to be addressed.

[tjs5012]

thanks for the help, I didn'y think to ask autozone, or in my case advanced autoparts. they let me use the scanner for free, It came back with P0442 (EVAP Emission Control System Leak Small) which is a fancy way of saying that the gas cap was not tightened enough when I got gas in NJ. So I got my code cleared and the light has not returned.

[Timmbo]

Or just check the code(s) and then reset the SES light yourself using the accelerator pedal method (detailed in the EC section of the service manual - pages EC-63-65 in my 04 manual).

That's what I did several years ago (was a 2135, TPS code in my case) and after resetting the light, the code never came back. The code could be a fluke the first time you get it. If the same code comes back again, then you know you have a problem that needs to be addressed.

This method actually works very well! Fairly easy to do, and totally free!

[Medic1530]

I had the same problem around 70k miles. Since the car is still under warranty the dealer didn't charge me to diagnose. Said the gas cap was not on tight. A few weeks later the light came back on. I readjusted the gas cap and the light went out. A few weeks later (see a pattern here?) the light came back on. This time I brought the vehicle back to the dealer who said I had a faulty gas cap. I'm no mechanic but I seriously doubt that was the problem especially since I see someone else had the same issue. I wonder how many others have experienced this problem? The dealer replaced my gas cap about a week ago. So far no light. Jurry is still out on this one.