Check engine light on

Hi Guy's, I may be totally out to lunch here but I think I recall seeing something like this before and it may have something to do with the weight in the bed of the truck and the ABS breaking system (even though the truck may not be moving).

Home Skillet wrote:
There is no EVAP system monitoring on a diesel. So, a loose gas cap won't trigger the MIL.

Right you are, I had both my diesels smog tested today and had to tell that to the 'tech'. He had to call his boss to confirm it.He said he was new.

Also a trick for those with a Ram diesel, is to turn the key from off to on three times quickly with out starting it and leave it in the on position on the third time. Some but not all codes will show in the odometer display. The code will be a P with a 4 digit number which are codes that can then be looked up on the net. If the display just reads DONE, then there are no codes that can be read this way. :)

There is no EVAP system monitoring on a diesel. So, a loose gas cap won't trigger the MIL.

powderman426 wrote:
This is a perfect example why anyone with a smart phone, tablet or laptop should have a elmwood bluetooth odbII port device. This simple device which costs about $12 on ebay or amazon along with an app called Torque which is another $5 could be your best friend. For less than $20 you can read and reset codes along with checking engine and transmission conditions in real time. I feel this along with the TPMS and carbon monoxide sensor is without a doubt the best money I ever spent.

Exactly. Or buy a stand alone, plug in scanner.

Example- several years ago our son was home from college for the weekend. Sunday noon he got in his '09 Pontiac Vibe (aka Toyota) and the check engine light came on. Plugged my scanner in and found out that it was a minor problem. The scanner cleared it and the CEL was off. Good to go.

2nd Example. 5 years ago we were headed to our daughter's college for the family weekend. At home (Saturday) we started the truck and the CEL came on. Do we take the truck and camper or leave it home and take Cathy's car and use a motel.
The question is- is the CEL serious or minor? My handheld scanner indicated the it was minor and cleared it. Good to go. Actron scanner.

Many error conditions that cause a CEL will reset and turn off the CEL if the condition that caused it goes away for three restarts in a row. But it will still likely leave codes stored in the computer.

But if it was me, I'd pay a visit to an Advance Auto, Autozone, Pep Boys, O'Reilly's, whatever you have in your neck of the woods. Most of them will read the codes for you for free. Sometimes that's all you need to figure out what the problem is.

And the guys are right, practically everything causes a CEL. Including not getting the gas cap on tight. No, really.

I've had the check engine light on for two years, its a consequence of a flash required by the CARB that deleted some of the on board sensors. going it to get the suckers cleared so it will pass the CA Smog Check which is a joke: Cat present ? check, EGR Valve present? check, no engine check lite on? check, you pass

This is a perfect example why anyone with a smart phone, tablet or laptop should have a elmwood bluetooth odbII port device. This simple device which costs about $12 on ebay or amazon along with an app called Torque which is another $5 could be your best friend. For less than $20 you can read and reset codes along with checking engine and transmission conditions in real time. I feel this along with the TPMS and carbon monoxide sensor is without a doubt the best money I ever spent.

I see your location and the higher country around there and wonder if with the camper on and pulling a grade you might be trying to push fuel thru a semi full fuel filter. Without the weight of the camper it does not need to push as much volume. Just a guess but I have dealt with a lot of full fuel filters and that has happened to me. More than likely not the problem but something to think about.

Are you sure that you screwed the fuel cap on tight? That can trigger a check engine light.