Check engine light help
 

Hey guys, I was driving a few days ago and on my way home my check engine light came on. I was one the highway for about 3 hrs. that day. But the engine wasn't runing hot or anything and when I got home I check all the basics (fluids and whatnot) and everything was fine. Heres my question. A few days before the light came on, I was backing out of a parking spot and backed into a truck. The bumper of the truck smashed my tail light and it looks like the rear panel has shifted forward a little. Its on the driver side where the gas door is. Would this cause the check engine light to come on? I know that on some cars the check engine light will come on if the gas cap isn't tight. O yeah, I have a 97 lx just so you know. Thanks for any help.

Could have if it caused your gas cap to shift too...common issue with the check light is if the gas cap isn't tightened. Tighten it 6 clicks, disconnect battery...press the brake down several times and put the battery cable back on...you will probably need the code for your radio if my memory serves me right...then the code is cleared. If it comes back on, something's up.

IF you plan on keeping the car for any length of time and are not broke, go buy an OBD-2 code reader.

I got mine from O'Reillys Auto parts on sale for $130ish. Plug it in under the dash and it spits out the code to whatever the problem is.

The dealership charges an $85 "diagnostic fee" just to hook a car up. Buy the reader, use it twice and it's paid for itself. Plus it'll read ANY OBD-2 car so you can help family and friends save money.

hey, try replacing the PCV valve. It seems to do the trick for some people on this board.

http://www.protegeclub.com/forum/sho...5&pagenumber=4

Or go to your local parts emporium as most of them now read codes for free.

Sure...let's just start blindly replacing random parts. There's only, what...100+ code possibilities?

Find out what the code is...however you want...and figure out how to fix it.

when my light came on
 

why my light came on, it was the OXYGEN SENSOR.
Dealer paid because i had it for like a month.
But that was it.
The light came on an stayed on. Really annoying.

Re: when my light came on
 

Yea its probably the Mass Air Flow Sensor. i went ot he dealer and thats what they told me why my check light was on. Also, they told me that there was a recall on that part. so take it in to ur dealer and et it checked. But i have a 2000 Protege. im not sure aobut urs man. jsut go check it out.

I had a common code 419/420 (420!) that returned the OBD2 Code "Catalyst system warmup under threshold."

It was an O2 sensor, replaced it 9 months ago, never came back. It was the sensor after the manifold, slightly harder to get to, right before the cat.

you also may need some new spark plugs, thats what i need and my engine lit is on