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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: ADavis on January 28, 2007, 10:23:35 AM
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Hey all,
My check engine light has been on for some time now. I have a 1990 Tracker and I don't think they have the reset switch under the dash (1991 and up). I think it is a mileage thing because it runs great and passes all emisions standards. Any advice on how to get this annoying light off would be great.
thanks
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Mines the same way, do what I did, unplug it. If ya know your Tracker or any other vehical that you drive all the time and ya should. Then ya know when something is wrong. George.
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If your tracker is anything like a sammi, it might have a switch under the dash next to the steering coloum. I have one on my 88 sammi and i turned it off. Its very handy to have haha
Amilla
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First you find a really big hammer then..........
In all seriousness, you should check the codes to see if what has set it off.
Put the key in the ignition (don't turn it on yet)
Put a the spare fuse into the diagnostic terminal on the fuse block
Turn the key to the ON position.
Record the the codes generated.
When you are done you can erase the codes in the ECM by disconnecting the battery.
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Thanks, I jumped it but I don't know how to read the codes. The book says that it will flash a code 12 if everything is okay and that Code 12 won't flash 3 times. But Code 12 doesn't flash 12 times. How do you read the codes by flashes? Is is supposed to flash 12 times?
Thanks
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Mine used to flicker, then come on, then go off, then on and it was completely random. It also passed emmisions and the tech said, " even though the lite is on I didn't get a code." I used to be able to get it to go off by flicking the dash cover with my finger. Now it doesn't come on at all anymore. No worries, I just monitor my guages more intently.
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Thanks, I jumped it but I don't know how to read the codes. The book says that it will flash a code 12 if everything is okay and that Code 12 won't flash 3 times. But Code 12 doesn't flash 12 times. How do you read the codes by flashes? Is is supposed to flash 12 times?
Thanks
For Code 12 it will flash once, pause, then flash twice.
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Okay, I understand how it works now, Thanks. Well, I checked it out and it is flashing code 12. But after I drive for about fifteen minutes the check engine light comes back on. I tried to check the code then (with the light on) but it won't flash at all unless I resest the light with the switch under the steering column. I'm thinking it might be my O2 sensor because when it is cold, it will surge a little, reeving between 1500 & 2100 rpms. It usually stops doing that after a few minutes. But I'm wondering if that is triggering it to turn the "check engin light." I've heard that the surging is caused the O2 sensor reacting slow but will not be detected by the diagnostic system. I don't know though, any additional advice would be great.
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If my memory serves correctly a bad O2 generates the Code 13. (Someone correct me if I am wrong). Though this would only happen if the circuit is open, i.e. damaged. The O2 might just be bad entirely thus, throwing the computer off.
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Yeah, O2 sensor is code 13, but I don't know why my check engine light keeps coming on if I'm getting the Code 12 reading off of it.
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I have noticed the check engine light goes off a lot on these little buggers. MY Girlfriends 97 Tracker, my buddys 99 Vitara with the 1.6, and my 96 Tracker all have the check engine light go off here and there. HERE is n easy tip.
Disconnect your battery overnight. Im surprised noone else said this. I was going to do it cus mine was on again for like a week. Then I left the keys in it overnight with the accesories on. I completely drained that battery. Jumped it 4 days later. No check engine light since then, been like 2 weeks. Im going to have my g/f do it and Im telling my friend to do it, but hes lazy.
If this doesnt work, i'm 95% sure its just a tricky O2 sensor.
Let me ask, have you done any intake customization? What about exhaust modification?
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i just took the bulb out on my 89 sidekick....no matter what, the light just kept coming on, and nothing was wrong
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O2 sensor shouldn't affect cold start performance, the ECU ignores the O2 while the engine is warming up and off load (also at max. load). The diagnostic system should pick up a slow switching sensor under normal running conditions, in practice I'm not sure it always does. O2 sensors are that expensive, if it hasn't been replaced for a while put a new one in.
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No, I don't have any exhaust modifications, everything on it is stock. I'm in California, so I'm a little scared about getting aftermarket stuff for it. Although the Doug Thorley headers look cool, they're not stock and I think they get you for that in CA.
BTW, how many O2 sensors are there on the 1990 Tracker? I only see the one that goes into the exhaust manifold but the guy at Kragen said there were two. The other is supposedly behind the cat. converter. I didn't see one in the diagram though or on the car. I'm wondering if there should be one.
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No, I don't have any exhaust modifications, everything on it is stock. I'm in California, so I'm a little scared about getting aftermarket stuff for it. Although the Doug Thorley headers look cool, they're not stock and I think they get you for that in CA.
BTW, how many O2 sensors are there on the 1990 Tracker? I only see the one that goes into the exhaust manifold but the guy at Kragen said there were two. The other is supposedly behind the cat. converter. I didn't see one in the diagram though or on the car. I'm wondering if there should be one.
There is the manifold one and one in the cat. I was curious cus after I redid my exhaust the light would come on here and there. Try disconnecting your battery over night and see what happens.
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I'm pretty sure only the later OBD2 models have two O2 sensors. The second sensor is only to monitor the performance of the converter which isn't reported by the old style OBD interface.
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Well, I looked under the car and I didn't see any sensor..but that doesn mean it wasn't there at one time. I also looked at the exhaust diagram (Factory Repair Manual) and it didn't show another O2 sensor either, just the one on the exhaust manifold.
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there should be a little adapter switch going the the light on the dash, Unplug it, or if you cant find it, black electrical tape always works.. :)
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I just disconnected my negative battery cable and then reconnected it. No problems since.
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I just disconnected my negative battery cable and then reconnected it. No problems since.
Thats what Ive been saying!!
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I just disconnected my negative battery cable and then reconnected it. No problems since.
Thats what Ive been saying!!
I've tried that and it didn't work. The Factory Manual also says to clear the memory by pulling the Tail Lamp Fuse for 20 seconds. That didn't work. But as I state earlier, I did flip the switch below the steering column and that will turn it off but it will come back on with 15 20 minutes of driving. I have run the codes and I get code 12 (everything is operating fine). I've got to get it smogged and the only thing I need is for that damn light to come on while it is being tested. Even better DMV (bastards) are making me take it a smog only station where they look at it with a fine toothed comb and charge a lot more money. Eventhough it passes smog with flying colors, they usually look at it more suspiously because it looks like hell with dents and no carpet.
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I have noticed the check engine light goes off a lot on these little buggers. MY Girlfriends 97 Tracker, my buddys 99 Vitara with the 1.6, and my 96 Tracker all have the check engine light go off here and there. HERE is n easy tip.
Disconnect your battery overnight.
You should only need to disconnect your battery for 2 hours. :)
On the 97 and 96 Tracker it is probably a problem with the EGR valve. You can go to pretty much any auto parts store and borrow their OBDII computer and see what the error message is. I'm not sure if AWK has a troubleshooting section on his faq, but I ended up tracing the problem down to a bad EGR Relay Solenoid Valve on the back half of my motor. Now that I know the procedure, it is pretty easy to test for.
Start up the engine when cold and reach around the EGR valve and squeeze it. Your engine should die, or try to die. This means the EGR valve is ok. If so, then work your way down the vacuum system using the diagram under the hood. Just pull each line off and use a vacuum test tool, or just give it a good suck. The EGR valve will probably open up. The EGR Relay Solenoid Valve should be closed when the engine is cold. If your wondering, just pull the power and see if it has 12 volts. If it does and you can still pull air through it, the relay is busted and needs to be replaced. Hawk Suzuki is probably the best bet to get the parts, as you can just tell him if it is the front or rear one. :)
As for the 91, no idea. I would try replacing the 02 sensor, if not you might have to take it to a shop.
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Ever replaced the ECM? I'm wondering if the light on without showing a code isn't an early sign that the ECM is going out.
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turn the key ahead, push the gas 2 times and then start the engine. turn the car off and the light should go off. if not there is an IRL switch under the hood in the fuse box on some models
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Ever replaced the ECM? I'm wondering if the light on without showing a code isn't an early sign that the ECM is going out.
I hope not, I really don't feel like spending the money on an ECM.
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turn the key ahead, push the gas 2 times and then start the engine. turn the car off and the light should go off. if not there is an IRL switch under the hood in the fuse box on some models
first time i heard that
does it work?
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Okay folks,
I got it solved. It seems like it was the O2 sensor. I replaced it and it no longer come on. So, $20 and problem solved....good times ;D
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Okay folks,
I got it solved. It seems like it was the O2 sensor. I replaced it and it no longer come on. So, $20 and problem solved....good times ;D
where did you get it from?
and how hard was it? (wiring and everything)
i heard that sometimes they "weld" on and theyre tough to get off
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Some just screw in. Getting them out can be a bitch though. When I got my header installed, the old o2 sensor worked, but they couldnt get it out of the old manifold without destroying it.
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I sprayed a litte WD-40 and let it soak for 5 minutes. After, I got a big closed in wrinch and broke it loose. I actually came out a lot easier than I expected, very little effort was needed. The new one was a universal O2 sensor, so I just cut the wire from the old one, soldered it to the new O2 sensor and screwed it in with some antisieze on the threads. Very simple and fast. Although, if you have a newer Tracker you might have an additional O2 sensor after the Cat.