Check Engine Light: Disappearing Act

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Author Message   Joey Chong (Trekker110) Member Username: Trekker110 Post Number: 55 Registered: 04-2002 Posted on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 02:49 pm:    Wierd. The check engine light popped on a few days ago. I didn't have time to look at it so just for sake of argument I turned on the Disco the next day and the check engine light is no longer lit. I didn't do anything. Just a loose wire? '97 D1 5-sp   Jim Murphy (Murph) New Member Username: Murph Post Number: 33 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 03:34 pm:    If the error that caused the light to come on was a transient one (misfire, failing air flow sensor, etc.), if a certain number of driving cycles are made and the problem doesn't re-occur, the light will be automatically turned off. I had this recently happen to me with a failing MAF. Two driving cycles after it came on, it went off. A few days later as the sensor started to get worse, the light came on permanently. Some errors that are more serious take many more cycles to auto-clear if they don't recur. For example, with the DSII transmission, it takes 40 cycles for the error to disappear if it was a transient fault. Depending on what caused your light to come on, if you hook up a code reader the fault may still be recorded.   Steve Davis (Davis45) New Member Username: Davis45 Post Number: 3 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Sunday, June 15, 2003 - 07:08 pm:    I went through a similar experience this past week, the check engine light had been coming on and off intermittently for about 3 weeks. The odd thing was after I filled up, it generally went off. I finally took it in for a diagnostic, and found out the fuel filler line had dropped enough to where the fuel cap wasn't ceating a snug seal. I have a 99 Disco I and apparently there was a recall a few years back on the that type of line/cap configuration. They just raised it up and secured the line in place at the dealership...problem solved.   Joey Chong (Trekker110) Member Username: Trekker110 Post Number: 56 Registered: 04-2002 Posted on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 12:03 am:    I'll keep that in mind. When and if the check engine light reappears I'll be more aware the next time around. So far so good as it has not reappeared.