check engine light? what in the hell now?

MOSES · Post by **MOSES** » May 18th, 2005, 12:52 am

today before i went to start my car, when i turned on the ignition, i noticed my check engine light cam on, it flickerd, dimmed, flashed, satayed on, turned off, dimmed and flickered.
What is goin on with this car?
Could it be ecu?

SE-Man · Post by **SE-Man** » May 18th, 2005, 2:56 am

I had the same problem....... Went off when I smahed the front end.

Post by **Custommx3** » May 18th, 2005, 9:36 am

If a CEL light comes on... then its stored in the ECU, pull the codes.

MOSES · Post by **MOSES** » May 19th, 2005, 10:49 pm

so it is normal to have the cel flicker and dim like that?
i didnt even have the car running, just turned the key on.

jschrauwen · Post by **jschrauwen** » May 20th, 2005, 3:25 am

MOSES wrote:i didnt even have the car running, just turned the key on.

That's all that's necessary to get a CEL, Ignition turned on.

georgechicken · Post by **georgechicken** » May 21st, 2005, 2:56 pm

Hey man... Have you had any luck with the car yet? I pray you have...

anyways, check to see if you have any engine codes stored, and also check to see that your battery is fully charged... the only time I've witnessed a dimming engine light was on a low-charged battery... Other than that, it may indicate that you could have an ECU problem... possibly a diode that is soldered in backward or something..

<ducking from the flying ECU>... if you get any codes, let us know... or if you want direct, quicker, but more vaguely worded answers, reference the engine code to the F2 section of the online shop manual... it will give you a pin by pin, wire by wire breakdown of diagnosing.... you've probably already found that by now, given the extent of your problem and what you've done to try to fix it..

and keep in touch, i still have those ECU's if you're needing one to test... Good luck!

Daniel

MOSES · Post by **MOSES** » May 22nd, 2005, 10:49 pm

tomorow im going to try and pull some codes, two things that indicate to mee a bad ecu is that dimming flickering cel and the feul pump, it dosnt come on when i turn the key.
But i will keep posting my progress.
I may have to get one of thoses computers off you guys, my car is a 96 v6 standard .
I do have to get an ecu from a standard if mine is a standard right?
thanks guys,
ill keep in touch.

MOSES · Post by **MOSES** » May 23rd, 2005, 1:24 pm

well, itryed pulling codes from the ecu because the cel is on.
But when i jumped ten and ground, nothing happened, the cel stayed on and never flashed.
Did i do it wrong, or ami missing a procedure?
thanks again.

georgechicken · Post by **georgechicken** » May 23rd, 2005, 2:00 pm

Ya know, it never occurred to me that you had an OBDII equipped model... that may change things... you'll need one from an OBDII MX-3, but in previous years, the V6 used the same ECU on both ATX and MTX models. The ATX used a piggyback module to control the automatic transaxle. You SHOULD be ok with either ATX or MTX ECU's, but to be sure, just compare the stickers on the casing.

The proper procedure to pull codes is different in the OBDI and OBDII models... on OBDII you HAVE to get a SCAN tool to pull the codes.. the gnd-ten trick doesnt work... sorry

man, do i feel like a moron..

Daniel

MOSES · Post by **MOSES** » May 23rd, 2005, 11:27 pm

well, dont worry about it man.
I geuss im in a little bit of trouble here hey?
I can see2 options here,
1 get a new ecu
2 buy a beat up 96 v6 parts car.

option 2 is very unlikly to happen, not enough of these cars around here, especially a 96 v6.

I geuss ill continue looking, where should i start looking for a cheap ecu?

MOSES · Post by **MOSES** » June 7th, 2005, 12:08 am

car runs really good, new disty, new ecu and alt, plugs, wires,
this projecy is coming along fine,
now, my front caliper is on solid, so, all minor work form here, \
MY gs is alive and well.

DavidOS · Post by **DavidOS** » June 7th, 2005, 12:45 am

so your parting the red sea good to hear:)

good luk with everything

XxantwawnxX · Post by **XxantwawnxX** » June 7th, 2005, 2:38 pm

well you know...when you turn your key.....the check engine light is suppopse to come on...along with all the oil lights and otther lights. just so you know there nto burned out. they go off when u start the car. Some times i get alil dimmage in them...but never a flicker.....so im not sure.

cyberphox · Post by **cyberphox** » June 8th, 2005, 9:22 pm

I thought only cars from 96 on had OBD-II?