Service Engine Soon light... worrisome?

C

Creemore

Guest
I've searched the archives, and it seems as if there is no way to guess at this without having the codes read, but here goes:

2000 DII, Service Engine Soon light is on steadily (ie not flashing). Engine runs like a champ, good fuel economy (for a Disco), no odd noises. The only performance difference since the light came on is that it takes a tick longer for the engine to light up when I turn the key. The dealer doesn't seem fussed and can't take the truck until next Monday. At least four drive cycles since it came on, so it's not resetting itself. Fuel cap is on tight.

The only anomalies in its routine lately: Battery disconnected while some body work was being done, fuel from a station I don't usually go to, and, right before the light came on, a series of starts with prolonged idling (parking lot congestion).

Am I just waiting 'til Monday, or is there anyone out there who has a good guess for me?

Thanks in advance. This board is gold. I'm so glad it's back online.

Bruce.
 
C

Creemore

Guest
Mileage on my truck...

About 45,000 miles/72,000 km.

But my understanding was that the service reminder function was a feature of the D1, and not the DII...?
 
A

apg

Well-known member
Dec 28, 2004
3,019
0
East Virginia
Service

Yeah...the 'service engine' light is basically a service reminder that comes on at about 52,500 and 105,000 miles. It's a reminder to take the vehicle in to the dealer for a proper vacuuming of the wallet. There are mileage-specific maintenance tasks, but nothing outside the realm of the DIYer...'cept for resetting the light. '95 and earlier could be reset with a paperclip, later models need Testbook or one of its clones.

Cheers
 
cmoore207

cmoore207

Well-known member
Oct 8, 2004
1,084
0
41
Takoma Park, MD
Creemore said:
About 45,000 miles/72,000 km.

But my understanding was that the service reminder function was a feature of the D1, and not the DII...?
Click to expand...


Yep, thats about when mine came on. I've been driving with it lit up for at least 1500 miles now, and I will continue to drive with it on for another 5000 at least until I actually get close to the 52,500 mile mark to bring it in for service. A very annoying and enduring service reminder from the rover gods!
 
C

Creemore

Guest
You don't suppose... this could be simple?!

cmoore207 said:
Yep, thats about when mine came on. I've been driving with it lit up for at least 1500 miles now, and I will continue to drive with it on for another 5000 at least until I actually get close to the 52,500 mile mark to bring it in for service. A very annoying and enduring service reminder from the rover gods!
Click to expand...

In Canada, the service intervals are in kilometers, not miles. I had the 72,000 service done 1,000 km early because it needed a pinion seal and as long as it was in the shop... so, if you're right, the light came on right when the 72,000 service was needed because it didn't know the work was already done. So all they gotta do is reset the light? That would be nice...
 
C

Creemore

Guest
Prolly not a service reminder.

Just talked to a mechanic. The service reminder function isn't on the DII, at least not here. He said there are over 200 possible faults that can trigger this light, though it usually turns out to be an O2 sensor or something equally minor. He said the reason it seems to be running well is that when the light comes on, the engine reverts to default ECU settings and ignores the bad parameters... the default settings were just 'better' than the state the engine was in when the fault was triggered.

200, huh? ... I guess there's no way to guess until they plug 'er in. Thanks for your help, anyway, guys!

Bruce.
 
R

rdoane

Well-known member
Oct 5, 2004
1,366
0
Houston, TX
ChicagoDon said:
ive got an '00 and both times my light came on, it was a busted mass airflow sensor
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i just replaced mine, warrarnty covered everything. a good idea would be to run to your local autozone/store like that and have them check the codes for you just incase.
 
Rover Puppy

Rover Puppy

Well-known member
Jun 10, 2004
1,938
0
Tallahassee, Florida
I've had the check engine soon light illuminate steadily twice.

If I remember correctly, the first time it happened (maybe 18 months ago??), the codes cleared immediately after being hooked up to whatever they use to read them and nothing was wrong. I think this was the light that they told me would come on if the fuel tank filler lid wasn't on just right??

The last time I got the warning light was in January. It was throwing (useless?) codes, clearing, then the warning light stayed on although nothing was wrong. The MAF sensor was replaced (under warranty) and no more problems. I was told that sometimes if the MAF sensor gets wet, the light won't turn off until it is replaced.

Good Luck, Jamie
 
D

davebrown

Guest
Check codes and reset lights on your own.

Check this out... http://www.ambientweather.com/carchip.html You can buy these at Sears or any number of places on-line. Plugs into your OBDII port and stays there collecting data. It will capture the fault codes that you can then download to your PC and interpret. If it's nothing serious, you just arm the device to reset the check engine light the next time it is plugged in. I got one and I love it (but I am a geek too). Besides fault codes, you can measure up to 5 from a list of about 25 engine metrics as you drive. Costs about $150 for the top end one with the most memory.

Dave
 
R

ROVERfixer

Guest
I'd suggest getting by Autozone/Advance and get the codes read. Post them here and see what you get. From what I've noticed, everybody has had at least one of the codes at one time or another.
The latest info you have is correct: There is NO EMR (Emissions Maintenence Reminder) lamp on a Series II nor Bosch RR.

Rock on.
CBiggs

I've got 1994 LWB; my engine mgmt sys isn't smart enough to know. Matter of fact, I don't even think it knows it HAS a MIL (Malfunction Indicator Lamp).
 
C

Creemore

Guest
The mystery deepens.

Thanks to all for the helpful suggestions.

Two nights ago, I refuelled at my usual station. After four drive cycles, the light went out. Just like that. I guess I'll still get the codes read, but now I'm thinking either some kind of bad gas problem, or my Landy has just invented a new game for us to play. Guess it got bored of the 'guess which door won't unlock with the remote' game.

Hope this thread wasn't too much of a waste of bandwidth... will post if anything interesting comes of the dealer visit.

Bruce. ;)
 
D

Disco2Inferno

Guest
my gf's 00 Disco had the service light on and last week. Then the engine started cutting out and the service light started flashing. Since I believe its out of warranty (2000, 38k) I had her take it to my mechanic who works on my M3. He said it was the MAF, and that it was crusted in mud. The only time we've taken this truck offroad was a few months back, and it was really muddy and and we went through alot of water. In a fairly deep puddle (3/4 of the 16in wheels were submerged) it stalled out and took about 5 minutes to restart.

In the end he charged her $350 to replace the sensor. To me that seems kind of high, but this guy has always been fair and trustworthy. Did she get ripped off?
 
S

stecz

Well-known member
Sep 4, 2004
88
0
$350? They are over $600 at atlantic british.... I guess I need to shop around.
 
J

jeast

Well-known member
May 4, 2004
65
0
2000 D2 and my engine light is on. I've had the codes read and it showed a bad IACV. I replaced it and sprayed the maf with electronics cleaner. I had the codes reset and the engine light turned back on after 1 drive cycle. Should I replace the MAF even if the codes aren't saying the MAF is the problem?
 
J

jamsandwich

Well-known member
Aug 15, 2005
774
0
36
Chapel Hill, NC
sorry for the partial highjack here, but what is the difference between flashing and steady service engine soon lights? my light recently came on, and it flashes at first maybe a half mile into driving, then is steady on for the rest of the drive. i've been on vacation eating turkey so its been in the garage until i can bring it into the damn dealer.

if it flashes is it more serious or something?
 
jrolfedrev

jrolfedrev

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
90
0
57
Southern California
I noticed that my service engine flashes on a uphill but disappear immediately. I already replaced the MAF and the pre-cat O2 sensor passenger side and I erase the code then the light went gone but when I went for a re-fuel it was back again. The car runs like a champ and I just did a Mobil 1 5w-30 and Mobil 1 oil filter oil change. The truck was about 88000 mile.
 
C

campbell

Guest
jamsandwich said:
sorry for the partial highjack here, but what is the difference between flashing and steady service engine soon lights? my light recently came on, and it flashes at first maybe a half mile into driving, then is steady on for the rest of the drive. i've been on vacation eating turkey so its been in the garage until i can bring it into the damn dealer.

if it flashes is it more serious or something?
Click to expand...


Yes, I think the flashing light means that something is not right at that moment. When it illuminates solid, a code has been stored.
 
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