check engine light comes on

[Mit_LanZer]

comes on every time it rains. the water either goes into the engine bay from under or between behind the hood and wind sheild. any way to prevent this ? or is this even a problem ?

[MacGyver]

The check engine light (CEL) is usually associated with emissions related problems. Stuff like the oxygen sensor or exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve. You need to either go to a repair shop where they will read the code or you need to buy your own code reader and get the code yourself. AFAIK there isn't any place that will read codes for free.

Unless something is broken in your car's body, water draining from the windshield and hood should not go into the engine bay and cause problems. Hose down your car with water and then open the hood and see if the water is going somewhere it shouldn't.

The rainwater could be somehow dripping on top of your engine and shorting out a wire, like for a spark plug or other emissions control device. Or your oxygen sensor might need replacing and the dampness is making it upset, triggering the CEL.

[IoannI]

You don't by any chance drive a Caravan?

[bell02fantasy]

You don't by any chance drive a Caravan?

or a venture van- i have the free solution

[JayTee1]

Just take it back to the dealer and they'll get it straightened out for you.

When I first got my car, the CEL came on as well, not when it rained though, brought it in, it was nothing. Or that's what i was told.

[onecoolloser]

You don't by any chance drive a Caravan?

or a venture van- i have the free solution

I think Mit_LanZer drives a Mitsubishi Lancer.

[speedster7]

Take it to the dealer and get it checked out :P

[fiiibra]

On my van, it was the coil pack. Also check the spark plugs and wires.

[spf1971]

There are so many thing that will set off your MIL that anyone coming on here saying "check this or check that" is only telling you a problem that they have had before. Your only real option is to take it to someone with a scan tool and get them to read the code.

[sixer]

do you own a Mazda?

[alkaholikc]

If its a G35 check to see if the gas cap is on tight. (: Pretty sure its a lancer thou.

[kmltick]

Get the code pulled. I wouldn't go to the dealer since they'd charge you the diagnostic rate to do it (which equals the price of buying a code reader off ebay).

So...

Buy the code reader off ebay, read it yourself and then look up what the code usually means for your car.

[kleptodathief]

buy a cheap OBD2 scanner off egay! it'll come in handy!

[JayTee1]

He's under warranty. So going into the dealership should be fine.

[Mit_LanZer]

i took it to dealership and they said its a faulty sensor. its a lancer gts

[feet_]

just a FYI for everyone.

I m pretty sure PartsSource will scan for you, for Free.

I d call to double check though.

[JayTee1]

i took it to dealership and they said its a faulty sensor. its a lancer gts


Lol, I had the same problem too.

[Mit_LanZer]

same car ? lol

[ES_Revenge]

You don't by any chance drive a Caravan?
or a venture van- i have the free solution
do you own a Mazda?
:confused: You guys do realise that millions of vehicles have a check engine light right? Cars since OBD-I (80s) have had this and pretty much every car since 96 (OBD-II and later) has a check engine light. You could guess every car you could think of, it's not like only those cars above have this "feature"! Unless you just meant the water leak, but from ppl guessing, there are probably a lot of cars with similar problems due to water.

If its a G35 check to see if the gas cap is on tight. (: Pretty sure its a lancer thou.
Applicable to many cars as fuel tank pressure is part of OBD-II (gasoline evaporating into the atmosphere is a major pollutant). Many cars nowadays (particuarly minivans I noticed) actually have a separate gas cap light due to the fact that the CEL is often set off by a loose or missing gas cap and owners having to pay $$$ to get it scanned and then find out all it was, was a gas cap...

He's under warranty. So going into the dealership should be fine.
Wow, I probably would have taken it to a dealership without even asking here first. There's literally thousands of DTC and many of them can set off the CEL/MIL/SES (whatever you wan to call it). Since that's the case it's very unlikely someone will guess exactly what DTC you have current that's setting off the lamp.

just a FYI for everyone.

I m pretty sure PartsSource will scan for you, for Free.

I d call to double check though.

No need to call, this is false. I dunno where this myth came from but I've seen it mentioned many times on RFD. PartSource does not do this (free or otherwise), I've asked at more than one location.

[ggs]

The check engine light (CEL) is usually associated with emissions related problems. Stuff like the oxygen sensor or exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve. You need to either go to a repair shop where they will read the code or you need to buy your own code reader and get the code yourself. AFAIK there isn't any place that will read codes for free.

Unless something is broken in your car's body, water draining from the windshield and hood should not go into the engine bay and cause problems. Hose down your car with water and then open the hood and see if the water is going somewhere it shouldn't.

The rainwater could be somehow dripping on top of your engine and shorting out a wire, like for a spark plug or other emissions control device. Or your oxygen sensor might need replacing and the dampness is making it upset, triggering the CEL.

Any idea how much an EGR Valve costs? I'm being told I need to replace mine, quoting me at $800.

[seftonm]

Any idea how much an EGR Valve costs? I'm being told I need to replace mine, quoting me at $800.
What kind of car? Mine is ~$200

[Asad_A203]

If its a G35 check to see if the gas cap is on tight. (: Pretty sure its a lancer thou.

Lol, dude this is with every car, not only the G.

[ggs]

What kind of car? Mine is ~$200

98 toyota camry.. im calling bs on this one.

[artemm]

My latest CEL fiasco is the MAF. Scanned it with my OBD-II and pirated VAG software. MAF was giving crazy readings. I got a quote from a reputable mechanic for 300 dollars part and labour.

Pulled it myself, sprayed it with some CRC Sensorkleen. Light hasn't come up yet.

If anyone here uses an oil-soaked rechargeable filter (i.e. K&N) don't replace the MAF before you tried to clean it. Mechanics won't suggest this because fixing parts isn't what they do. They fix cars.

Listen to Revenge, he knows what he's talking about.

[mrlooneytoon]

I've heard on the radio, an ad for some place doing free scans for the CEL until Oct 30 or something. I just can't remember the place. If I hear it on the radio again I'll post back.

[sterdeus]

98 toyota camry.. im calling bs on this one.

$200 new does sound like bs. $200 used sounds expensive too. I got my used for $50 for my aging 95 bonneville.

[ggs]

$200 new does sound like bs. $200 used sounds expensive too. I got my used for $50 for my aging 95 bonneville.

$500 new they quoted me. after labour it was $800, how ridiculous is that. don valley north toyota, STAY AWAY.

[seftonm]

$200 new does sound like bs. $200 used sounds expensive too. I got my used for $50 for my aging 95 bonneville.
That is the nature of imports, parts are often more expensive. It's actually $162 for my EGR valve. http://www.worldimpex.com/parts/pierburg-egr-valve_557381.html

[sterdeus]

ahh. I was refering to OEM parts. For those with older cars, a wrecker is your best option for parts.

[tdotbai]

98 toyota camry.. im calling bs on this one.

I changed my camry '96 egr valve at the dealer for 300 (labor and taxes incl), three years ago.

[ggs]

I changed my camry '96 egr valve at the dealer for 300 (labor and taxes incl), three years ago.

this is starting to get fishy, i took my car back from the dealership after they put it back together and now it shakes/rumbles when i drive. definitely didn't do that before, is it possible they've tampered with something when putting it back together?

[tdotbai]

The shaking and rumbling is what was happening to my camry. It would do it at random times and sometimes completely shut off but start back up right after i turn the ignition. After changing the EGR valve all those issues went away.

Try this forum http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/f15

theres a lot of people on their that have similar issues. Its where I go to troubleshoot any problems.

[Mit_LanZer]

i forgot about this thread. anywho he told me he took it to a dealer. they ran obm 2 scan test or whatever its called. turns out. faulty sensor. they replaced it . it was coolant temp sensor. now his car runs fine so he says . ;)