SES light is on!

**Conflict** · 03-20-2010, 09:21 AM

So as I start my car up to go to work this morning my SES light turns on. The car runs fine and drives normally, I am 95% sure it is smog related. But I think I have read to only worry about it on GM cars if it is blinking?, Is that true?

**Knight** · 03-20-2010, 01:09 PM

Blinking = possible bad. If it's just on constant, take it to a parts store and have them read the code/codes. Might be something as simple as o2 sensors.

**shady milkman** · 03-20-2010, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by Knight

Blinking = possible bad. If it's just on constant, take it to a parts store and have them read the code/codes. Might be something as simple as o2 sensors.

yup^ except blinking ses IS bad..

**Knight** · 03-20-2010, 01:23 PM

Thought it meant misfire if blinking? Could be just wires or plugs then. Could be something worse though too. But it shouldn't be driven when blinking till problem is diagnosed.

**shady milkman** · 03-20-2010, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by Knight

Thought it meant misfire if blinking? Could be just wires or plugs then. Could be something worse though too. But it shouldn't be driven when blinking till problem is diagnosed.

yea..but i consider misfires bad

**Conflict** · 03-20-2010, 02:27 PM

well its not blinking so I should be fine

**shady milkman** · 03-20-2010, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by Conflict

well its not blinking so I should be fine

well not necessarily..you do know ses= service engine SOON ...not service engine sometime

**Conflict** · 03-20-2010, 03:15 PM

I will pull the codes tonight, I am just at work all day.

**Knight** · 03-20-2010, 04:18 PM

Originally Posted by shady milkman

yea..but i consider misfires bad

Agreed. I just meant possibly bad in terms of cost or major problem. And also agree - anytime the light is on, flashing or not, the problem should be diagnosed and corrected as quickly as possible.

**shady milkman** · 03-20-2010, 06:25 PM

Originally Posted by Knight

Agreed. I just meant possibly bad in terms of cost or major problem. And also agree - anytime the light is on, flashing or not, the problem should be diagnosed and corrected as quickly as possible.

yeah

**DaddySS** · 03-21-2010, 02:43 AM

Remember an SES light can be anything from 02 sensors, to MAF, to AIR, or even as simple as the gas cap is not on right. Pull the codes and we can go from there. As stated above, as long as it is not blinking and the engine is running OK, then it is not critical but should be addressed soon.

**Smittro** · 03-21-2010, 03:26 AM

One thing also that has'nt been mentioned... Never be fooled by the light going out either.. If you ever see a SES light and then it goes out or stops blinking. That does'nt nessasarily mean that everything is ok now.. Example: When one of my coils took a dump. It ran fine @ low throttle, but when I got on it, it would drop #5 because the spark was'nt hot enough anymore to ignite more than about 1/4-1/2 throttle. It did'nt even throw a code @ first.
I had to force it to code by flogging it some. The SES light would then flash. BUT it would immediately go out again and stay out.. Now obviously it was still broken. This lead to me discovering a lower intake gasket problem BEFORE I discovered the coil issue.. Did a minor top end refreash and put her back together. Only to find I still had an intermittent misfire and STILL no SES.. It came down to pulling each wire while it was running before I found the dieing coil.. Moral of the story here is just cuz the light goes out or is'nt flashing anymore, does'nt mean it "fixed" itself... Just putting that out there..

**twozs** · 03-21-2010, 09:46 AM

^ in all my years of working with cars one thing ive never seen is one "fix itself"! so im with you on that.

**Conflict** · 03-21-2010, 02:29 PM

Well I started it to take it to Autozone and now the SES light is blinking and it was idleing wierd so I guess I need to wait on getting the codes pulled

**Conflict** · 03-21-2010, 09:40 PM

Got the codes, they are
P0303 Cylinder 3 Misfire Detected
P1441 Evaporative Emission (EVAP) System Flow During Non-Purge

so what should I do?

**Hi-Po** · 03-21-2010, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by Conflict

Got the codes, they are
P0303 Cylinder 3 Misfire Detected
P1441 Evaporative Emission (EVAP) System Flow During Non-Purge

so what should I do?

Look closely at the Plug wire and the plug for #3. Make sure the wire isn't burned, maybe ohm it out also.

Swap #3 coil pack to say... #1. See if the misfire follows it.

If no, Swap #3 fuel injector to say... #1. See if misfire follows it.

I bet you find your cause following that.

**Conflict** · 03-21-2010, 10:57 PM

those would cause rough idle?

**Smittro** · 03-21-2010, 11:11 PM

Bad coil, and bad purge solinoid..

**Smittro** · 03-21-2010, 11:11 PM

Originally Posted by Conflict

those would cause rough idle?

yes

**shady milkman** · 03-22-2010, 06:31 AM

Originally Posted by Conflict

those would cause rough idle?

Originally Posted by Smittro

yes

Yes and not the cool sexy rough idle either

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