service engine soon light

[qx4dude]

Anyone know what the service engine soon light is for? Is it just a timer for the oil changes? I have a 2002 qx4. I do all my own maintance so how do i turn this light off?

[Pwnin O'Brien]

The SERVICE ENGINE SOON lamp illuminates when there is an emission related malfunction with your vehicle. You will need to have the diagnostic code read via the OBDII port. You can get this done for free at some auto parts stores or you can have a dealer/mechanic read the code for you. Once you have the code, you can figure out what needs to be fixed or replaced to turn the SERVICE ENGINE SOON lamp off.

[attofarad]

You might consider buying a cheap OBD2 reader, so that you can pull your own codes, reset them if you like and see whether they come back (will take a few drive cycles if they do, so don't think it is cured the 1st time you drive it after reset). In any case, you want to know that the system is trying to tell you.

My GF has an intermittent PO160 code (rear oxygen sensor, driver's side) which likes to show up once in a while. Last time I reset it, it stayed off for nearly two years; just came back on and reset again last week. I don't think the error is real, or maybe a connection is a bit corroded.

[Mischi]

How did you reset your service light?

[Chuck Tribolet]

How did you reset your service light?

The code readershave an option to do the reset. With some vehicles there's an involved processto reset it using the truck and the key, but I'd want to know what the codewas before resetting it. With some vehicles, there's also an involved processfor reading out the code

[fueler]

The SERVICE ENGINE SOON lamp illuminates when there is an emission related malfunction with your vehicle.

correction: doesnt have to be emission related. any detected engine malfunction will trigger SES light

[Pwnin O'Brien]

correction: doesnt have to be emission related. any detected engine malfunction will trigger SES light

This is true. I just used the owners manual definition for the SES lamp.

[donald]

Hi everyone...
sorry to dig up the thread - but is the ODBII reader the only way to read the SES error code?
Is there a manual way? (ie. blinking lights, etc)?

[Empty V]

Only with the scanner.

[funnyman82]

Will any OBDII reader work? Where do you plug the reader in to get the codes? And do all the readers allow you to reset codes? Thank you!

[Chuck Tribolet]

Any OBD II reader should work for your vintage. More recent cars have CAN bus and early readers don't handle that.

The plug is under the dash above the drivers left knee.

I suspect there are some readers out there that won't reset the codes.

I have an AutoTap, which plugs into the USB port on my laptop. It will reset the codes. I have their older software, which
gives the wrong description for the codes above P1000 which are mfg-unique.

Chuck

[PEZi]

any OBDII reader SHOULD work... however i know that some don't... the one my local o'rielley's had was now able to 'link to computer' but the one advance auto parts did now problem

[oneilldn]

Anyone know what the service engine soon light is for? Is it just a timer for the oil changes? I have a 2002 qx4. I do all my own maintance so how do i turn this light off?

That's actually your "Check Engine Light".