[photomike]

hey,

Wife's car has check engine light on. Can I drive it for a couple of days with it on???

Scheduled to drop off next week. Everything seems to be running ok. should I be worried?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Red Rocket]

Re: check engine light on. Can I drive it for a couple of days??? (photomike)

Are there any symptoms? I wouldn't make any unnecessary trips. If it were something major, you would probably notice it and you would be in 'limp home mode'. The car will run but it feels like you're towing a boat.

But if it were me, I'd swing by my indy mechanic and have him pull codes. (5 minutes)

 

[Edmonds17]

Re: check engine light on. Can I drive it for a couple of days??? (photomike)

You apparently have a '99. You must be up over 50,000 mi. by now. Has your throttle body already been replaced? If over 50,000, you may be about to be stranded.

'99 and newer Volvos use an onboard computer to control the engine. When the onboard computer detects residue build-up in the throttle body, the onboard computer shuts down the engine. You coast to a stop. Can usually restart but now in "limp-in" mode. Max. speed is 30 mph. Cost to repair is
$950-1,200. Can only be repaired at the dealer or the rare independent that has paid the necessary fees.

Problem wil reoccur every 50,000 or so miles because Volvo has no "fix" for the defect.

There is no way to tell if you are about to be stranded because you will have no idea why the dashboard light has come one. I'd park the car until the dealer reads the codes. Maybe buy yourself an OBDII machine from IPD or your local autoparts store.

Edmonds17

 

[JRL]

Re: check engine light on. Can I drive it for a couple of days??? (Edmonds17)

Quote, originally posted by Edmonds17 »

You apparently have a '99.

WHY?
Check engine lights come on in 98s a lot and they don't "stop" the engine.
Could be one of 10 things

 

[Edmonds17]

Re: check engine light on. Can I drive it for a couple of days??? (JRL)

To: JRL:
There is a big difference between '98's and '99 models. '99 and newer use a different engine control system than the '98 and earlier cars.

'99's and newer have on-board computer that controls engine. One has no idea why the dashboard light is on. Could be something minor or you could be about to be stranded. You just don't know.

'99 and newer cars use the VADIS system (Volvo After-sale Diagnostic and Information System.) VADIS effectively forces Volvo owners back to a Volvo dealer for some repairs because the on-board computer has to be "reloaded" as a part of the repairs.

Edmonds17

 

[JRL]

Re: check engine light on. Can I drive it for a couple of days??? (Edmonds17)

I know
The statement you said he apparantly had a 99 and I asked why apparantly?
98s get ck lights as much as 99s.
Sure the reasons are quite different but they still can get them just as much
JRL

 

[Papa_Kirlo]

Re: check engine light on. Can I drive it for a couple of days??? (JRL)

Quote, originally posted by JRL »

I know The statement you said he apparantly had a 99 and I asked why apparantly? JRL

Apparantly because of Mike's signature

 

[JRL]

Re: check engine light on. Can I drive it for a couple of days??? (Papa_Kirlo)

Quote, originally posted by Papa_Kirlo »

Apparantly because of Mike's signature

Let's see, I should stop and look at everyone's signature to see that year car he's driving

 

[StickThatClutch]

ETS failure will trigger the ETS light not the CEL.

It doesn't track the buildup in the TB. Mine is filthy, but I'm just waiting for it to die so I can get rid of this ETM/TB.

The newer yellow tag ones should last you more than 50k miles. I think some people are well of 75k without any symptoms of things going south. My orginal is at 70k and has not failed yet, although its on its last legs.

Critical failures of the ETM/ABS/SRS or transmission will trigger their own warning lights on the dash. So if you just see the CEL you should be ok. Most likely MAF/O2/gas cap.

Good luck.

Cheers

 

[Qbrozen]

my CEL is ALWAYS the damned gas cap.

 

[omega6_virus]

Re: (Qbrozen)

Quote, originally posted by Qbrozen »

my CEL is ALWAYS the damned gas cap.

Wow.

I'd say 7/10 times, a check engine light is a sensor. It might not be as often as more serious matters causing the check engine light, but if you definatly don't notice any major differences in operation, probably just a sensor.

 

[DWBF1]

Re:

I've been driving with my check engine light on for almost a year now. OBD says it's an O2 sensor.....IE a 600 dollar repair to make sure the car isn't spitting out too much in the way of emissions. In MI we don't have emissions requirements so I'm not concerned.