Ses Light Mystery
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: CA
Ses Light Mystery
Hello all , maybe someone has an answer to my question , or had this happen.Almost every time I drive my '86 to work, 11 miles, at exactly
7 miles the ses light comes on and stays on till I get to work and shut the car off.
When I start up again to head home, light is off and stays off for the ride back home, same road , pretty much the same speed, maybe a little more stop and go on ride home.I've even tried going a few miles more to see if it would come on, it dosn't.
I've checked for stored codes ,there are none, and car runs fine, no problems, even with light on. I was thinking loose connection , but exactly 7 miles ? And whynot 7 miles back under same conditions?
Weird uh?
7 miles the ses light comes on and stays on till I get to work and shut the car off.
When I start up again to head home, light is off and stays off for the ride back home, same road , pretty much the same speed, maybe a little more stop and go on ride home.I've even tried going a few miles more to see if it would come on, it dosn't.
I've checked for stored codes ,there are none, and car runs fine, no problems, even with light on. I was thinking loose connection , but exactly 7 miles ? And whynot 7 miles back under same conditions?
Weird uh?
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,599
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From: Orange County NY
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13
Interesting 
I'd be curious to see what a real time data scan looks like at exactly the time it throws the code. That might help you trouble shoot. Do you have a scanner?
I'd be curious to see what a real time data scan looks like at exactly the time it throws the code. That might help you trouble shoot. Do you have a scanner?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: The Top of Utah
It should have a stored code. Do you at least get the "12" codes? What does your factory service manual say to do in a case like this?
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Myrtle Beach SC
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
I agree with CFI and I bet the code is a code 32.Bad EGR.You can take it to Autozone to get the code if you want or you can do a search on how to pull codes.
Last edited by Redeasysport; Feb 15, 2006 at 04:54 PM.
CF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Charlotte N.C.
The reason you don't get it going home is it takes 7 miles of continuous highway speeds usually above 70 mph. My 92 does the same thing but I haven't replaced the EGR yet because the car runs fine. You should be getting a code 32 on your computer. It might be a EGR on yours, or could be the solenoid, low vacuum, or wireing...
Thread Starter
Race Director
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From: CA
Originally Posted by byebyeL98
Interesting I'd be curious to see what a real time data scan looks like at exactly the time it throws the code. That might help you trouble shoot. Do you have a scanner?
I'd be curious to see what a real time data scan looks like at exactly the time it throws the code. That might help you trouble shoot. Do you have a scanner?Corvette Stories
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Thread Starter
Race Director
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From: CA
Originally Posted by CFI-EFI
It should have a stored code. Do you at least get the "12" codes? What does your factory service manual say to do in a case like this?
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
end of story.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Myrtle Beach SC
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
That does not make sense. Any time the ses light comes on it stores the code in the ECM.Unless you reset it there should be one.Take it to Autozone and have them pull the codes.
Thread Starter
Race Director
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From: CA
Well everyone , I think I figured it out,my car is telling me it dosn't want to go to work,it wants me to take it home and spend all day working on it!!!!
I checked the manual about the EGR solenoid, it's suppose to be by the distributor in the right rear.
It's not.There is a pipe wrapped in aluminum foil with a thingee on top that a wire is attached to, the wire connector was wasted to I repaired that.I traced the vaccuum lines from the EGR valve and they go to what I believe is the solenoid under the throttle body on the left front side,at least it looks like the picture,and that sucker is hunkered down pretty good in there.I will attempt some more research tomorrow.
I think the ECM is ok ,because I have gotten codes before ,and corrected the problem ,than cleared them.
Thank you all for your help!!!
I checked the manual about the EGR solenoid, it's suppose to be by the distributor in the right rear.
It's not.There is a pipe wrapped in aluminum foil with a thingee on top that a wire is attached to, the wire connector was wasted to I repaired that.I traced the vaccuum lines from the EGR valve and they go to what I believe is the solenoid under the throttle body on the left front side,at least it looks like the picture,and that sucker is hunkered down pretty good in there.I will attempt some more research tomorrow.
I think the ECM is ok ,because I have gotten codes before ,and corrected the problem ,than cleared them.
Thank you all for your help!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,130
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From: seattle WA
I beleive the wire your talking about is the EGR switch-my 87 was
doing the same thing-don't know about the mile thing-but it was always
on my short trip to work. I was able to read mine though and it was
a code 32-but from most of the reading and post I've read it seem
the majority of the time a code 32 is thrown-it's usually the EGR switch-it was in my case. Good Luck.
doing the same thing-don't know about the mile thing-but it was always
on my short trip to work. I was able to read mine though and it was
a code 32-but from most of the reading and post I've read it seem
the majority of the time a code 32 is thrown-it's usually the EGR switch-it was in my case. Good Luck.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Wichita KS
Originally Posted by CFI-EFI
It should have a stored code. Do you at least get the "12" codes? What does your factory service manual say to do in a case like this?
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
Much cheaper usually.
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Race Director
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From: CA
Hi,thanks for the help.
You know,I don't think my '86 is even suppose to have this pipe unless someone said , it had aluminum heads,which it dosn't according to my RPO sheet, and a magnet.O well,another mystery.
You know,I don't think my '86 is even suppose to have this pipe unless someone said , it had aluminum heads,which it dosn't according to my RPO sheet, and a magnet.O well,another mystery.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by GIMMESOME
Hi,thanks for the help.
You know,I don't think my '86 is even suppose to have this pipe unless someone said , it had aluminum heads,which it dosn't according to my RPO sheet, and a magnet.O well,another mystery.
You know,I don't think my '86 is even suppose to have this pipe unless someone said , it had aluminum heads,which it dosn't according to my RPO sheet, and a magnet.O well,another mystery.
RACE ON!!!
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: CA
Well guys,I am going to give this a more serious look see this weekend.
Re pull the codes,check the EGR valve , and solenoid for proper function
according to the service manual test procedures.It passed california smog just 2 months ago and I haven't driven it that much,and their real
sticklers for EGR valves.I will keep you posted on what I come up with.
Thanks again for all your input!!!
Re pull the codes,check the EGR valve , and solenoid for proper function
according to the service manual test procedures.It passed california smog just 2 months ago and I haven't driven it that much,and their real
sticklers for EGR valves.I will keep you posted on what I come up with.
Thanks again for all your input!!!
Drifting
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 1,478
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From: Sacramento, CA Money can't buy happiness - but it's more comfortable to cry in a Corvette than a Yugo.
Originally Posted by GIMMESOME
There is a pipe wrapped in aluminum foil with a thingee on top that a wire is attached to, the wire connector was wasted to I repaired that.
On your 86 it is: GM# 14087415 - SWITCH, EGR VLV TEMP IND (1986)
A new one is about $15 from the dealer and takes a few minutes to replace. If it is not working correctly you will see an SES light and it should set a code 32. Although a code 32 is usually stored, if the wire or the switch is subject to an intermittant voltage problem that is very short or limited, as Morley says, the ECM may not store the code.
As EvanD says, it usually takes a few minutes of highway or other operation before the ECM starts looking at the EGR switch. At that time yours is replying with a suspect value and the SES light is being set. I don't advocate throwing parts at a problem, however, even though you say that you you repaired the "wasted" wire, there is probably internal corrosion in the switch wire that you missed. Replace the wire/switch assembly and I'll bet that your problem will be solved.
Thread Starter
Race Director
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From: CA
Thank you Mike,It wouldn't supprise me if that wasn't my problem,it is intermitent.
So this sensor should be a one piece thing, like a O2 sensor,right?
I noticed there is a connector for it about 6" away , so that makes a good point if it's suppose to be one piece,and
that my repair connection is faulty at the the sensor ,or the sensor is bad.Like I said, this weekend I am going to give this thing a total diognostic according to the FSM.
I will keep eveyone that has given me help posted,thanks!!
So this sensor should be a one piece thing, like a O2 sensor,right?
I noticed there is a connector for it about 6" away , so that makes a good point if it's suppose to be one piece,and
that my repair connection is faulty at the the sensor ,or the sensor is bad.Like I said, this weekend I am going to give this thing a total diognostic according to the FSM.
I will keep eveyone that has given me help posted,thanks!!