1989 Buick Century service engine soon light

Tiny
ONEZEMISTOO
  • MEMBER
  • 1989 BUICK CENTURY
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 13,200 MILES
Service engine soon light only comes on on the highway for a brief time then shuts off
Monday, July 6th, 2009 AT 9:56 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,575 POSTS
If the light comes on, there will be a code stored in the computer. Take the car to a nationally recognized parts store and have them scan the computer. Most will do it for free, so there is no money out of pocket. By doing this, the code will identify where the problem is coming from.

Let me know what you find.

Joe
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Saturday, July 18th, 2009 AT 5:35 PM
Tiny
ONEZEMISTOO
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Joe thank you for your response But. I am a fifty year old woman and am not aware where the computer chip is found in a car or even that the car had a computer. How do I locate it?Joe -please think of your mother and how you would explain it to her when you answer this question
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Sunday, July 19th, 2009 AT 12:38 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,575 POSTS
Not a problem. The car has a computer in the electrical system. One of the things it does is identify problems when something goes bad. When this happens, it turns on the check engine light in the car to let you know there is a problem.

To identify what the problem is, you need to have a special tool called a scanner. The tool communicates with the computer and basically, the computer tells the scanner what is wrong with the car.

Now, since most people don't own a scanner, you need to take the car to someone who does. Most of the nationally recognized parts stores like Auto Zone, Advance Auto Parts, have the scanner and will check it for free. That way, you can find out the problem with no money out of pocket. Therefore, I recommend taking the car to such a place and have them check it for you.

Once you have that done, let me know what they tell you is causing the light to come on, and I can better help you. Also, please let me know if you have any other questions. I'll be glad to help you. I lost my mother this past November and god do I miss her. Any questions at all, let me know.

Joe
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Sunday, July 19th, 2009 AT 10:28 PM

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