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Old Oct 21, 2011 | 04:09 PM
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Default Engine Light On

My 08 Z51's engine light recently came on while I was driving. I pulled over, turned it off, waited for a few minutes then re-started the car but the light stayed on. The light went away after I turned off the car and let it sat for a few hours. The dealer ran a test (logged in 23 miles. Yikes!!! Yes, this is the topic of my next thread) and told me the car is fine. It was just an erroneous error then cleared the error code. Has anyone ever experienced this condition on your vettes? Please let me know. Thank you.
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Old Oct 21, 2011 | 05:58 PM
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At this point, the problem could be anything...my only thing to add would be that it probably will come back. It did when you turned off the car and it did when they turned off the car. I would get a very inexpensive code reader and wait for it to happen again and read the code for yourself right when the light goes on. I got this one on Amazon from a suggestion here on the forum...for $20, you can't beat it:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001LHVOVK
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Old Oct 21, 2011 | 06:49 PM
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Thanks cclive.
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Old Oct 21, 2011 | 06:56 PM
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I've never experienced it but from reading here for a year it's usually a gas cap seal failure that causes the light to come on.
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Old Oct 21, 2011 | 07:15 PM
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I've heard about that too. Thanks.
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Old Oct 21, 2011 | 07:50 PM
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Next time the CE light goes on go to Autozone and ask them to pull the code for you. Its a free service in an effort to get you to buy the pesky sensor from them.
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Old Oct 21, 2011 | 08:06 PM
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The SEL goes out in a few ignition cycles if the problem that caused it in the first place doesn't reoccur.

(and yes, the gas cap not sealing properly is a very common reason for it)
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Old Oct 21, 2011 | 08:53 PM
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By the way, the Z51 was a suspension option, not a model designation; and has nothing whatsover to do with the engine, or the problem you are having. So the fact that your car has this particuliar option is no more important to solving your problem than telling us the color of your car, or if it is equipped with chrome wheels.
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Old Oct 21, 2011 | 09:37 PM
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How many miles on your car. Mine came on and pulled a lean code on bank one and two. I would clear it and it would stay cleared for a day or two then come back. I cleaned the mass air flow sensor with q tip and mass air cleaner and it has not been back on in months. Couldn't see the dirt on it, but easy to see the dirt I removed on the q-tip. Good luck.
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Old Oct 21, 2011 | 10:07 PM
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Originally Posted by EVRose
I've never experienced it but from reading here for a year it's usually a gas cap seal failure that causes the light to come on.
I get a message in the DIC that says, "check gas cap"
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Old Oct 21, 2011 | 10:51 PM
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Some of these messages on the DIC are *soft* codes and can be removed safely with a code reader. Even the cheapest code reader should work fine for removing soft codes.

The one I use is the Actron CP9550 Pocket Scan Plus OBD II and CAN Code Reader. It has most code definitions right on the screen.

However, it may be a genuine issue that needs attention, so best to consult your local speed shop for verification.


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Old Oct 22, 2011 | 07:11 AM
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Mine came on when I installed a skip shift fuse removed the fuse and reinstalled set up like it was before I put the skip shift fuse. All was good except have a skip shift fuse in a plastic bag in the glove compartment. Just had the check engine light come on in my S600 Mercedes Benz and had a service job done this past week and was told that it was some bad gas that I had put in. BTW I always use premium gas & add a octane booster every once in a while. On everything except a Supra Turbo because Toyota told don't ,I did not ask why!
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Old Oct 22, 2011 | 04:45 PM
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could be one of your Catalytic converters going up . had the same thing happen and it was the Catalytic converter
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Old Oct 23, 2011 | 12:30 AM
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Thanks everyone for your inputs.

VETTEAMOUS- Mine has less than 15K miles. If the light comes on again, I'll clean the mass air flow sensor & passage. Thanks.
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Old Oct 23, 2011 | 08:54 AM
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Originally Posted by laconiajack
By the way, the Z51 was a suspension option, not a model designation; and has nothing whatsover to do with the engine, or the problem you are having. So the fact that your car has this particuliar option is no more important to solving your problem than telling us the color of your car, or if it is equipped with chrome wheels.
Unless the problem is in the oiling system associated with the oil cooler that Z51's have and other's don't. Or a problem in the braking system which is different. Or even a steering problem caused but the extra cooler. Maybe a transmission problem caused by, you guessed it, another cooler. Yes, Z51 is just an option but to say it can't be related to the issue is like saying it wouldn't matter whether it was an LS2 or and LS3 because both are just engines.

The Z51 envy is becoming palpable again.
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Old Oct 24, 2011 | 01:33 PM
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Prettyboymfm- When I brought it in, I told them I thought it could be the oxygen sensor and/or the cat converter as I did smell the rotten egg odor every now & then, especially when I'm driving it hard but they told me it wasn't it. It has been 2 weeks since they cleared the code and my car is fine now. Hopefully, it was just an erroneous code as they'd said. Thanks.
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Old Oct 24, 2011 | 03:00 PM
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Originally Posted by laconiajack
By the way, the Z51 was a suspension option, not a model designation; and has nothing whatsover to do with the engine...
"08 Z51" must have the LS3 engine. Can't be a Z06/LS7.

So even though Z51 was a suspension option, it tells us which engine the OP has.

Anyway, it's a moot point, because I don't think it helps resolve the CEL issue.
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Old Oct 24, 2011 | 03:09 PM
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Originally Posted by superfast
...It has been 2 weeks since they cleared the code and my car is fine now. Hopefully, it was just an erroneous code as they'd said. Thanks.
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Old Oct 24, 2011 | 03:22 PM
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Originally Posted by CO Lightfoot
"08 Z51" must have the LS3 engine. Can't be a Z06/LS7.

So even though Z51 was a suspension option, it tells us which engine the OP has.
.
" '08 coupe" would have said the same thing
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Old Oct 24, 2011 | 03:41 PM
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Default engine light

superfast,
Let us know if the engine light comes on again (and what you find out). Hopefully, it was just a loose engine cap.

Chevrolet Customer Service,
Justin



Originally Posted by superfast
Prettyboymfm- When I brought it in, I told them I thought it could be the oxygen sensor and/or the cat converter as I did smell the rotten egg odor every now & then, especially when I'm driving it hard but they told me it wasn't it. It has been 2 weeks since they cleared the code and my car is fine now. Hopefully, it was just an erroneous code as they'd said. Thanks.
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