Off is normal. It comes on for a test when first starting your vehicle but then goes out. If it comes on afterwards or stays on then there is a problem with your engine control system. You need to have the codes checked. If your Service Engine Soon light starts to flash while you are driving, it's telling you that the problem is serious and damage to engine components like the catalytic convertors may occur.
SOURCE: service engine soon light came on and stays on
The warranty company was able to find a used transmission for $900 which was still under warranty and it will cost 11.5 hours for the install, plus shop supplies and diagnostic. Total cost about $2000. I drove the car for probably at least 10,000 miles and it was leaking a small amount of transmission fluid even after I fixed a seal (waste of money) before getting it fixed. I didn't see the fluid though on my garage floor though as there is something that would catch it.
Cadillac dealer stated this is a known problem with the clutch assembly and that there is a bulletin out on it. The reason the car stalls is due to the transmission not the engine. When the car is at a light or the like there is apparently too much strain from the tranny and it stalls the engine. My car didn't get that far, but after reading a bunch of stuff and looking up the codes it appears to be the case. Of course you could get lucky and the solenoid is just bad, probably not though due to the bulletin.
You can read the codes and clear the codes easy enough. If you don't know how there are many posts on the net.
SOURCE: Grand Am 2003 "service engine soon" light
The service light means something is wrong with the car and it needs attention now. Get the codes checked and that will tell you what is wrong with it.
SOURCE: Service engine soon light came on
many things can cause the service light to come on, check the gas cap make sure it seals, otherwise get it scanned,.
SOURCE: "Service engine soon" light came on, how soon is
have it scanned then decide depending on the code
SOURCE: what is the cause when 'service engine soon' light flashes
Hi there:When the light comes on, one or more diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) are stored in the engine control module. These DTCs remain even if the light goes out. To address a Check Engine Light problem, the DTCs are retrieved and the appropriate troubleshooting information is followed in order to determine the problem.
The Four Most Common Check Engine Light Scenarios and What to Do:
* The Check Engine Light turns on and off or flickers.
If the Check Engine Light comes on in the city but goes off on the freeway, then the fault is present during city driving conditions. Pay attention to whether or not the vehicle runs or drives any differently when the Check Engine Light illuminates. If vehicle performance does change, drive the car as little as possible and take it to be checked by a service professional as soon as possible. If there is no change in vehicle performance, you can drive home, but have it inspected as soon as possible. In this condition, you run a risk of the vehicle dying or not starting.
* The Check Engine Light comes on and stays on.
If the Check Engine Light illuminates constantly during driving with no noticeable driving or performance problems, there is a permanent fault in the emission control system. When this happens, the computer that controls the emission system usually has a backup program that runs while the fault is present. (These backup programs are often referred to as "limp home" mode programs.) You should get the vehicle serviced as soon as possible, but in most cases, the vehicle will continue to operate, though you run a risk of it dying or not starting.
* The Check Engine Light illuminates, stays on, and there are performance problems.
This means that a vital component of your emission control and engine management system has a serious problem. It usually involves a component or system needed for the vehicle to run at all. In most cases, drive the vehicle as little as possible. In many cases, the vehicle is not safe to drive at all -it could stop or stall out at any moment. It is best to pull over to a safe place and have the vehicle towed to an automotive diagnostician for a thorough inspection and repair.
* The Check Engine Light light comes on and blinks in a steady pattern while driving.
Don't confuse this steady pulsing of the Check Engine Light light (usually one or more flashes per second) with a flicker (see above). The Check Engine Light may stay on steadily or it may flash when the vehicle is accelerated. This is very serious. There is a severe failure of the emission control system that is causing the engine to misfire to the point that the catalytic converter is damaged each time the Check Engine Light flashes. It may mean that the catalytic converter is overheating to the point that it will glow red or, in extreme cases, start a fire on the underside of the vehicle. Immediately pull over to a safe place and have your vehicle towed to an automotive diagnostician for repair. Vehicles can be severely damaged and even destroyed by fire if this condition is ignored for too long.
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The information below was complied by me, it explains what causes the check engine light or Service Engine Soon light to come on and the process of finding the cause.
When the Check Engine light or Service Engine Soon light (depends on make) is turned on the computer control unit (called the PCM) has sensed a fault in the electronic controls of the engine and/or the emission system. When this happens you will seldom feel the car engine run any different. There are about 200 possible faults that turn the Check Engine light on, to know what has developed a problem you must have the system tested, this is called an OBD2 fault code test, Kragen and Autozone parts stores do this testing for free.
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