Specifications
If
the Light
Is
On Steady
You may be able
to
correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If
so,
reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
the cap. See Filling
Your
Tank on page
5-7.
The
diagnostic system can determine
if
the fuel cap has
been left off or improperly installed. A loose or missing
fuel cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere.
A
few driving trips with the cap properly installed
should turn the light
off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If
so,
your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries
out.
A
few driving trips should turn the light off.
Are you low on fuel?
As
your engine starts
to
run out of fuel, your engine
may not run as efficiently as designed since small
amounts of air are sucked into the fuel line causing a
misfire. The system can detect this. Adding fuel should
correct this condition. Make sure
to
install the fuel
cap properly. See Filling
Your
Tank on page
5-7.
It
will
take a few driving trips to turn the light off.
Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If
so,
be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel. See
Gasoline Octane on page
5-5.
Poor fuel quality will
cause your engine not
to
run as efficiently as designed.
You may notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling
when you put the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation
on acceleration or stumbling on acceleration. (These
conditions may go away once the engine is warmed up.)
This will be detected by the system and cause the
light
to
turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least
one full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
If
none of the above steps have made the light turn off,
have your dealer or qualified service center check
the vehicle. Your dealer has the proper test equipment
and diagnostic tools to fix any mechanical or electrical
problems that may have developed.
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments have or
may begin programs
to
inspect the emission control
equipment on your vehicle. Failure
to
pass this
inspection could prevent you from getting a vehicle
registration.
Here are some things you need
to
know
to
help your
vehicle pass an inspection:
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection
if
the
SERVICE
ENGINE SOON light is on or not working properly.
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