Help with mysterious SES light

[IBJanky]

I have a 95' Camaro 3.4L V6 (5-spd) with 103K miles

Sometimes when I drive, the SES light will come on, but it goes away once I shut off my car, and back on again.

For example:
I drive to the store, and the SES light comes on.

Park the car, go into the store to do my business, and when I get back out, and start the car again, the SES light is gone :wtf:

I went to the local AutoZone yesterday and try to get the codes pulled, but they couldn't find any codes since the SES light was off at the time

The guy told me to come back when the SES light was on, keep the car running and have the codes pulled while the SES light was on :wtf:

Does that make sense? WTF could be causing the SES light to go on and off like that?

My car has OBD II by the way

myke

[Whitey]

have you checked your o2 sensors lately?

[redcamaro9090]

Mine does the same exact thing, so I solved the problem, put a picture over the light!:D

[IBJanky]

Originally posted by Whitebird94
have you checked your o2 sensors lately?

No, I haven't

But then again, without the codes, I'm not sure what the problem is :dunno:

myke

[Y2KSierra]

I agree on the 02 sensors. I had a random SES light come on while driving on a trip home, came on and off about 5 times on a two hour trip. New oxygen sesors fixed the problem and stopped the light from coming on. I've had to put three or four sets of 02 sesors into my 95 :(

Is your gas mileage very poor right now? If so I strongly recommend replacing the 02 sensors, you'll be happy next time you fill up ;)

[IBJanky]

Originally posted by Y2KSierra
I agree on the 02 sensors. I had a random SES light come on while driving on a trip home, came on and off about 5 times on a two hour trip. New oxygen sesors fixed the problem and stopped the light from coming on. I've had to put three or four sets of 02 sesors into my 95 :(

Is your gas mileage very poor right now? If so I strongly recommend replacing the 02 sensors, you'll be happy next time you fill up ;)

My gas mileage has not suffered at all :no:

In fact, my fuel economy has gone better compared to when I first got the car 2 years ago :yup:

When I first got the car, I only used to get 280-300 miles to a full tank of gas

Nowadays, I get anything between 320-340 miles to a tank :D

myke

[Whitey]

yall drive your cars to nice.

I get about 250 lol

but my SES light comes on due to my exhaust. they are fairly cheap to change, and if it is bothering you it would be the first place i would look. but i am not a mechanic (legal disclaimer.... done :D )

[20firebird02]

do u have a k&n filter? if so the oil from the sensor may be getting on ur maf sensor and doing it! if that isnt it like the other guys said check ur o2 sensor by the cat. and make sure the wires arent fraid and jst moving around making the light come on/off!

[IBJanky]

Originally posted by 20firebird02
do u have a k&n filter? if so the oil from the sensor may be getting on ur maf sensor and doing it! if that isnt it like the other guys said check ur o2 sensor by the cat. and make sure the wires arent fraid and jst moving around making the light come on/off!

Yes, I have a K&N intake kit, and it's been there for 2+ years now with no problem :dunno:

myke

[redcamaro9090]

Originally posted by IBJanky
My gas mileage has not suffered at all :no:

In fact, my fuel economy has gone better compared to when I first got the car 2 years ago :yup:

When I first got the car, I only used to get 280-300 miles to a full tank of gas

Nowadays, I get anything between 320-340 miles to a tank :D

myke

I get 200 if I'm lucky, what gives?:help:

[Nyce99]

Originally posted by redcamaro9090
I get 200 if I'm lucky, what gives?:help:

I'm with you there! I get about 210 before the check gauges light comes on do to no fuel. :o

I would also agree with checking the o2 sensors. I haven't had that problem, but I run an o2 sim after the cat, because I took the cat off. But those do seem to be one of the leading causes for the SES light that I have seen. That and people who SOAK their K&N filters in oil. I've cleaned mine once or twice now, oiled it up, and I've never had a problem, and I even have the descreened MAF. Oh well, I'm not complaining. :D

[ChillPhatCat]

How do you get such terrible mileage? I drive up and down a hill to work and back every day and I can go about 300 on a tank... I normally put about 14 gallons in on a fill up. I can get 32 MPG on the highway...

[redcamaro9090]

I just took it to the shop and the EGR was bad so they replaced it, so far no more SES lights and I'll report back on the hopeful better gas mileage

[camarospeedemon]

Originally posted by redcamaro9090
I just took it to the shop and the EGR was bad so they replaced it, so far no more SES lights and I'll report back on the hopeful better gas mileage

EGR wouldn't affect gas milage that much, maybe 1-2 MPG at the most.

I'd change the plugs/wires first. If your car has 90k+ miles, then change the O2 sensors. I went from 17-18MPG to 20-22MPG just by changing the pre-cat o2. Probably could have gotten better if I changed my left and right bank O2s.

IBJanky, I think you have OBD I not OBDII. IIR 96 was the first year GM started using OBDII.

I know with OBDII, even when the SES light isn't on, the PCM still stores codes for so many cycles. If the code doesn't come back after so many cycles it will delete the code if it's a soft code. If it's a hard code, then it will keep it until it gets cleared out. Next time it happens, haul ass to autozone.