The Check Engine Light

[gsmittle]

I dunno... Whenever my "check engine" light comes on, I check and the engine's still there....

[JimD]

I bought a cheap code reader from harbor freight. It also allows you to reset codes. I think it was $40.

The code for a small emission system leak (typically gas cap but was the pump on my 06 Suzuki when it was new) is definitely different than the one for an oxygen sensor/catalytic converter problem. My wifes car has had both codes. I reset the oxygen sensor/catalytic converter a bunch of times. The car never ran poorly but it was undoubtedly on the backup settings when the light was on. At first it would stay off for weeks to months and then it would come on about a week after I reset it. It has 80-90K miles and the independent garage we went to just replaced both the cat and the oxygen sensor. I had her specifically ask if they could tell which it was and they said they could and then replaced both. We are not planning to go back. When they replaced her clutch they forgot to tighten the nuts on one of the motor mounts. If they hadn't given her a $50 off coupon they probably wouldn't have gotten the cat job.

Jim