My first Service Engine Light...I think.

Here's my problem, my SEL came on a few weeks ago on my way home from visiting Binghamton. The drive there put the Riv through some temps reaching -20, the whole trip averaged out to around -2 degrees for my car. On the way home, the light comes on. Nothing seemed different though.

When I get home, I turn the car off, go inside for a while, then go out to get dinner. I realize, when I turn the car on, that the SEL is gone.

Today, 2 degrees yesterday, 20 today, the light went on again. Same thing happened, I go home, turn the car off, turn it back on, and the light's gone.

Had to go out again, and there it is, and there it isn't.

Nothing feels different, engine delivers its power fine, transmission shifts smooth.
Nothing sounds different, engine runs as good as ever, takes 2 full seconds at most to start up cold.
Nothing smells different, no burning smells or anything.
Nothing looks different, no suspension height problems or anything.
Nothing tastes different, just take my word on this one guys.


I don't know if I'm throwing a code or if this disgustingly harsh cold temperature fluctuation is messing around with some wire connections or something. What should I do?

Check for codes. But you already knew that, right.

it sounds like a wheel beering

Rickw wrote:

Check for codes. But you already knew that, right.

I guess that means I gotta find a dealer or something?

Sometimes an Autozone has one that works on 95's and they will check your codes for free. I have seen the code reader in the next post at O'reilly's auto parts but my problem is I can't count.

Even better, I found a scanner online for $20. I'll take that.

LINK

palermocorey90 wrote:

it sounds like a wheel beering

setting an SEL? That would be ABS or Trac

I'm going to guess at a misfire code, I don't think '95s did an evap code. Could be EGR, anything. Get the code read somewhere that does GM. I think '95 is that in-between year that wasn't quite OBD-II and wasn't quite OBD-I. There are a few scan tools that can do it, most 'real' garages should have the necessary wires to plug in and read it. IIRC AutoZone only reads codes from OBD-II.

This one's specifically for GM's 1980something-1995 models. If it doesn't work, I'll send it back and get a refund. I'm crossing my fingers for now.


If it is a misfire code, what could cause that? Plugs and wires, or something worse like a cam position issue? I hope it's not expensive, whatever it is...

palermocorey90 wrote:

it sounds like a wheel beering

He said that with an amazingly straight face.

Wild guess, evap system. Have you checked to make sure your gas cap is sealing tight?

You really just need to get the codes, step #1.

deekster_caddy wrote:

palermocorey90 wrote:

it sounds like a wheel beering

setting an SEL? That would be ABS or Trac

I'm going to guess at a misfire code, I don't think '95s did an evap code. Could be EGR, anything. Get the code read somewhere that does GM. I think '95 is that in-between year that wasn't quite OBD-II and wasn't quite OBD-I. There are a few scan tools that can do it, most 'real' garages should have the necessary wires to plug in and read it. IIRC AutoZone only reads codes from OBD-II.

yea my bad i read it wrong i thought it was like the regal with 2 lights. i do agree with what u think

I cleaned my gas cap o-ring and white threaded part with alcohol and the light went off for a long distance but came back on again. Next time I am at the junk yard I am taking one from an Aurora and see what happens.

My gas cap closes pretty tight, like new. I doubt I'm losing fuel. The scanner will be here by next Friday.

$5 on catalytic converter!

AA wrote:

$5 on catalytic converter!

You're betting that I have to pay a lot of money to fix something expensive? How encouraging.


Tell ya what, if you win, you send me the $5.

Deal.

AA wrote:

Deal.

We'll know what's up come Friday.

The fuel cap doesn't need to lose fuel only pressure from not sealing however Deekster said there is no code for evap system but I was getting an egr pintle error code (may still be) that doesn't seem to have any effect on engine performance.

Ahhh... EGR probably needs to be removed/cleaned (or replaced) then. It won't effect performance, only emissions. It could easily be an intermittent code.

deekster_caddy wrote:

Ahhh... EGR probably needs to be removed/cleaned (or replaced) then. It won't ef
fect performance, only emissions. It could easily be an intermittent code.

Good thing my inspection's not until August

Tried new egr still coding.

could you pull all the *stored* codes (as well as the currnet one) and tell us what theya re? Sometimes combinations of codes point to a failure better.

Albertj

Shit. Ok, here's my problem: my '95 has an OBD1 PCM, and an OBD2 connector. 16 pin, not 12 pin.

An OBD1 scanner(12 pin), which just came in the mail and I just tried to hook it up, will not connect but is needed to scan it. Likewise, an OBD2 scanner(16 pin) will connect but will not scan.

There's a cable I found made by ALDL specifically for the 16 pin OBD1 cars, of which there were very few and only between 1994 and 1995 like the Camaro, Firebird, LT1 cars, and the one and only Riviera. It costs $60. No.


Time to find a dealer...shit.

Karma has that all sorted out. He posted the Name and P/N of the unit he uses for his 95 in another topic on here somewhere.
Might want to PM him and ask.

Sigh...PM sent.

IBx1,
Got to Home Page, look under: Supercharged 3800 Tech - Series 1 engine and Transmission, Then look for topic titled; faster pussycat
In there you will find where Karma mentions the name, model number and ebay site where to get one for the 95.