Your Check Engine Light (CEL) Just Came On! Now What???

[Ozzie]

This information, or parts thereof, has been posted before in various threads. But here it is again. In the one spot.

YOU GET A CEL

Ensure car doors are closed. Turn key ON>ACC>ON>ACC>ON in rapid succession. Codes will display in EVIC in place of Odometer reading. WRITE THE LETTERS/NUMBERS DOWN. COPY YOUR VIN NUMBER FROM THE DASH TAG.


DECODE THE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC)

Go to this site: http://www.obdii.com/codes.asp

Choose manufacturer from pull-down menu. Type in your DTC (the prefix letter and the numbers you wrote down in the car). Click on the "Lookup DTC Information" button. On the next screen, type in VIN # if needed for further clarification of DTC.

For quick verification, go to this site:

http://www.iequus.com/support/obd2_definitions.php

Put in your DTC. Sometimes you'll get a slightly different code explanation there that makes more sense to you.

Write down the DTC explanation (from both sites if necessary) and ....


THEN WHAT?

Do a search in the forum for threads that address the issue you have discovered. Get educated. Then, if necessary...

Post your own thread and ask for further guidance.

:thumbs_u:

[MEDuck4]

My check engine light comes on periodical. Code indicated "exhaust circulation problem". At the Dito Bros dyno run, I mentioned to some of the customers and they said that it is the EGR valve as oil gets sucked into it. After my three passes on the dyno, light was off. How did it seem to cure itself, and why doesn't Chrysler recognize this as an inherint problem, and provide a solution. The aftermarket has a catch can for this problem.

[fnkychkn]

My check engine light comes on periodical. Code indicated "exhaust circulation problem". At the Dito Bros dyno run, I mentioned to some of the customers and they said that it is the EGR valve as oil gets sucked into it. After my three passes on the dyno, light was off. How did it seem to cure itself, and why doesn't Chrysler recognize this as an inherint problem, and provide a solution. The aftermarket has a catch can for this problem.
what code did you get?