CEL from hades

zprovo · Post by **zprovo** » 09 Feb 2009, 21:04

ok....I'm soliciting suggestions...

I have a 2000 XC SE 103,450 miles and the check engine light is on, actually it goes off and on....for the past year. the volvo dealer didn't find any codes, reset the light...and it came back on just before I got home. Called the dealer and they pretty much said that they didn't know what was wrong but they could start replacing things until the light stays out....that sounded expensive. Unfortunately I can't register the car in tennessee with the CEL on so I'm starting to get a little frustrated with a car that drives GREAT and shows no symptoms of anything being wrong, except the light

some history:
I bought the car last november with the check engine light, tracs, and abs light on. I had the abs module rebuilt, the tracs and abs lights went off, but not the CEL.
I have since also replaced the positive battery cable to the fuse box, and sparkplugs.
any thoughts would be appreciated, I've got nothing to lose and I like tinkering with the car

thanks
Zach

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 09 Feb 2009, 22:01

Zach,
Is not being able to register the car a Nashville thing? I live in Knoxville and I register cars without the registration office ever even seeing the car...just the title- so what's up?
I would recommend that you have your diagnostic trouble codes read through your car's OBD-2 socket and post the codes here. Then we'll be able to help you.

Btw, even though this forum says XC70's, it is for the later version. Your post should be in the earlier section, so I'm moving this whole thread to that section. A ghost link will remain here so you'll be able to find the location of the new one.
Regards,
MIJ

zprovo · Post by **zprovo** » 10 Feb 2009, 06:27

unfortunately, in nashville before I can go to the dmv, I need to get through emissions...and emissions won't talk to you if you have a check engine light on...

the crazy / frustrating thing about this whole adventure is the dealer says that there are no codes in the car's memory (I bought an obd II reader and it also says no codes) is it possible for the light to pop on without storing a code?

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 10 Feb 2009, 08:36

I wonder if the problem is a wiring problem to the instrument cluster? I don't have the schematics for a 2000 but on a '99 the CEL wire is Brown/White and it goes to pin 11 on the 16 pin cluster connector.

...Lee

db130 · Post by **db130** » 10 Feb 2009, 09:05

and are we sure that we are not talking about the "SERVICE" light aka the service reminder light and not the "CHECK ENGINE" light?

if there are truly no codes stored, why not just pull the bulb for the check engine light?

zprovo · Post by **zprovo** » 10 Feb 2009, 11:08

yeah, it's the CEL, I have a MUCH better relationship with the service light...

I would be happy to pull the bulb, or use a little black tape on the sucker, however when I brought the car into emissions they said no dice the check engine light is on, I asked if it had a code associated with it and they said nope, but it's on and you gotta fix it in order to pass. so I cleared the light and went back, and they said I hadn't let a full driving cycle run before bringing it in, so I had to drive around some...needless to say the CEL came back on. It's getting close to being funny...not yet but close

zach

zprovo · Post by **zprovo** » 10 Feb 2009, 11:11

Ozark Lee wrote:I wonder if the problem is a wiring problem to the instrument cluster? I don't have the schematics for a 2000 but on a '99 the CEL wire is Brown/White and it goes to pin 11 on the 16 pin cluster connector.

...Lee

that's an interesting idea...I might need to poke around some.
the trick is I can clear it (for a while) with the OBDII reader or diconnecting the battery...

db130 · Post by **db130** » 10 Feb 2009, 11:32

Back in March 2008, I had a P0422 code that would come back within 75 miles of having the CEL reset(due to 2 "lazy" o2 sensors). I got the emissions system to report as "ready" in 60 miles, immediately had the car inspected(and it passed since the OBDII system indicated that it was working 100%), and the CEL came back on my way home from the inspection station.

How many miles can you drive the car after the CEL has been reset before the CEL comes back on?

zprovo · Post by **zprovo** » 10 Feb 2009, 12:15

db130 wrote:Back in March 2008, I had a P0422 code that would come back within 75 miles of having the CEL reset(due to 2 "lazy" o2 sensors). I got the emissions system to report as "ready" in 60 miles, immediately had the car inspected(and it passed since the OBDII system indicated that it was working 100%), and the CEL came back on my way home from the inspection station.

How many miles can you drive the car after the CEL has been reset before the CEL comes back on?

60-80 miles....
that's interesting...did you ever do anything with the O2 sensors?

db130 · Post by **db130** » 10 Feb 2009, 12:34

actually, yes....

i replaced them in my driveway with new ones on the same day right after i got the inspection sticker. i now have a OBDII scanner that can check for OBDII system "readiness":

http://forums.swedespeed.com/zerothread?id=102950

my suggestion to you would be(just so we can get your car registered first):

1) buy such a scanner that can scan for readiness
2) reset CEL, check after 50-60 miles if the OBDII OBD monitors come up as ready for testing.
3) get car inspected ASAP before the CEL comes back on.