Check engine light

[DonR]

Driving home last night my check engine light came on but no messages came on the DID. Today I got an email from Ram with my vehicle health report. I called the dealer an made an appointment with the service department but the first opening is next Wednesday. The indicator is not flashing so my question is can I continue driving until I drop it off? I would probably accumulate about 200 miles.

Thanks.......Don

POWERTRAIN

#ad Malfunction Indicator Light Your vehicle's Malfunction Indicator Light recently indicated your vehicle needs service. WARNING: Prolonged driving with the Malfunction Indicator Light on could cause damage to the engine control system. If the Malfunction Indicator Light is flashing, severe catalytic converter damage and power loss will soon occur. Have your vehicle serviced at your dealership immediately.

 

[Beast2B]

Many auto parts stores have a code reader to tell you what is set. They generally won't clear it for liability reasons, but at least you'll know what it is. Also, a $25 code reader/clearer from Amazon carried in the glove box can save a ton of stress!

 

[DonR]

While driving home from work Friday night I made a stop to pick up a pizza I'd ordered. When I came back out the light went out when I started the engine as it's suppose to. I still have my appointment Wednesday morning with the dealer because I think it'll eventually come back. I did print out the error message from the Ram VHR email so that I have proof that there was an issue and they can't blow me off.

 

[Newsa]

When the light goes out without someone clearing the CEL/MIL, it means that truck passed it's own internal check and cleared the CEL. Might be that the truck will hold onto the readings that caused the CEL. But i doubt the dealer will do anything. If it ain't broke when you bring it in, they won't fix it.

 

[rbell1]

Many auto parts stores have a code reader to tell you what is set. They generally won't clear it for liability reasons, but at least you'll know what it is. Also, a $25 code reader/clearer from Amazon carried in the glove box can save a ton of stress!

Do you have any further info on that code reader, such as the part number in Amazon?

 

[Beast2B]

Foxwell nr200 has good reviews and is upgradeable. Saw it for 19.99 on Amazon

 

[DonR]

Had an appointment last Wednesday with the dealer but stopped by on Tuesday to see if there was any sense in my bringing it by since the light cleared itself. Since there were no stored codes they said it would be just a waste of my time. So I guess we'll see if it comes back.

 

[Newsa]

Mine occasionally hiccups, throws a code and clears itself.

 

[RVTRKN]

The best as to price, capability and other related parameters, like TQ/HP outputs is a Kiwi3 . http://www.plxdevices.com/category-s/195.htm This is the best in my opinion, for a regular user, that allows many other options beside code reading and clearing. I have the Kiwi 2, that came out before the Kiwi 3 and have a Kiwi 3 on order. I mainly bought it because I would get check engine lights, then when I showed up at a dealer they took my money and they said it cleared itself, and it was probably due to possible charging issues. I bought the Kiwi 2 and cleared that code a couple of times. When an experienced tech hooked up to my ECM to check for updates, he found those codes then checked my batteries, and he told me I had the usual weak passenger battery, and that was causing the codes. I replaced the batteries and no more codes. I use it for other uses now with sensor modules.

The only issue is you must have a smart phone and an app to use it with, I use the Dash Command app. http://www.palmerperformance.com/products/dashcommand/

 

[DonR]

Thanks for the link RVTRKN. I went to their link and saw that they have the Kiwi 3 on sale for $90 today for cyber Monday. I looked on Amazon and they have it priced normally at $99.99 but today it's $10 off plus the free ground shipping on orders over $49. I ordered it from Amazon to save the $12 shipping that PLX wanted.

DonR

 

[RVTRKN]

Thanks for the link RVTRKN. I went to their link and saw that they have the Kiwi 3 on sale for $90 today for cyber Monday. I looked on Amazon and they have it priced normally at $99.99 but today it's $10 off plus the free ground shipping on orders over $49. I ordered it from Amazon to save the $12 shipping that PLX wanted.

DonR

I bought mine on a special, which includes the new PLX app that is coming out in May and paid $87.00. But its for my 2016 Tacoma, I'll be leaving it in on a permanent basis. They also have a devise now that you can daisy chain your sensor modules like I have, but via Bluetooth. I may just get that for my 07 and eliminate the adaptor that connects to my Kiwi Wifi 2