Service Engine Soon Light ???

Just went on. Went to Advanced Auto, code had something to do with evaporatiive emission controls (something to that extent)

I'm thinking could be O2 sensor, but anyone have any other ideas? What parts are part of the evaporative emission control "system"???

Oh, in MO we sell 10% ethanol gas so I've been putting in regular 89 octane. Just filled up at a mom & pop place, so maybe crappy gas???

Any thoughts???

Gracias amigos!

car runs fine besides that light.

Could be your gas cap is not on tight enough. I forget the exact code for it but mine gives me that once in a while and it goes out on it's own. The car still drives fine and everything it just has the light on .

Most likely the gas cap. Recheck it...

Natesriv wrote:

Just went on. Went to Advanced Auto, code had something to do with evaporatiive emission controls (something to that extent)

I'm thinking could be O2 sensor, but anyone have any other ideas? What parts are part of the evaporative emission control "system"???

Oh, in MO we sell 10% ethanol gas so I've been putting in regular 89 octane. Just filled up at a mom & pop place, so maybe crappy gas???

Any thoughts???

Gracias amigos!

car runs fine besides that light.

could also be the "evap sensor" (I think its called). On my 96 its on the rear of the engine, hanging over the rear valve cover. Its cylinder shaped and within a week of replacing mine I got the light again (before I knew about tuning/SES codes).

I think it was initially caused by broken vac lines.

find out the code number. tell me the year, and if its super or non. i'll look up the dtc on my manuel.

If the light goes on again, I'll get the code #

Once before it did it. I took it to Autozone and they said the code was probably a gas cap. Bought a new one and no effect. Turns out, a fuel return line (or some line) had come loose from a little canister on the back of the engine. I could hear a weird sound while the engine was at idle. Popped the line back on, problem solved.

It wasn't loose this time, although I suspect it may be related to that. I'll have to keep my eyes open for a cracked line.

Let you guys know!

Thanks,
Nate

Light went on again on way to work. I'll have Advanced Auto clear code, but I'll get the # first. I think it may be a vacuum related problem.

The O2 sensor isn't part of the evaporative emission control "system" anyway is it??

I once had a badly cracked vac line. Made the transmission shift hard at times, but no code, and no SES light.

Car runs fine, but i sure don't want that light on!

Being a Bonne guy...I'm horrible at telling Riv years by sig pics. Please tell us what year your car you have.

Evap codes usually have nothing to do with the O2 sensor. O2 not switching, O2 slow toggle, O2 insufficient activity are examples of codes that indicate a bad O2.

Many of the parts puppies will tell a customer that an emission based code is "probably an 02" sensor when it isn't.

Sorry, I have a 96 Riviera.
I unplugged the positive on the battery for about 20 minutes to clear the code. But it will come back I'm sure. Then I'll got to the parts store to get the code number. But I think it's the same one I had last time. And the guy at the store said it was the gas cap. it wasn't it was a fuel return line (I think return line) had popped off.

I'll take a pic and post what I'm talking about.

Okay, the code was P1441 - Evaporative Emission System Flow During Non-Purge

I searched here and saw mention of it. so I took the purge solenoid and valve off. The autoparts store has the solenoid, but no valve. However, I tapped the valve lightly a few times and put it all back together and now, no light.... Maybe the valve was stuck.

I'll keep the solenoid for a week, if it doesn't go off again I'll take it back and get a refund (it's not on the car, the OEM still is)

thanks all!!

Nope, light came back on, so I put the solenoid on. Light is still on. However I think it has to go a certain number of cycles before it resets, so i'll wait a day or two and see if it goes off.

if not, does anyone know the part # for the purge valve itself? Not the solenoid, but the valve??? My autoparts store didn't have it.

Thanks!
N.

The light went out... The solenoid must have fixed the problem!

Good to hear.

Another possibility is hooking the hoses up to the opposite fittings.

Well, this all started a year or two ago. one day the SES light went on.. Couldn't figure it out, but while I was looking under hood with engine running I heard a weird faint popping sound. Turns out the return fuel line had come unplugged from that valve. Popped it back on and problem solved.
So when it went on again and I had code read, that was the first thought...did that hose pop off again? It hadn't...

But, thanks to this site I found out it was either the valve or the solenoid...turns out it was the solenoid.

Nice easy $36 fix... what do you think a dealer would charge to tell me that??