The Ultimate CEL

Yellow Rose

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About two months ago I got a CEL, despite the engine running just fine. I pulled the clock fuse to reset the ECU and everything was fine. About one month later, the same thing happened. Neither time did I bother to pull the code, because as mentioned, the engine was running just fine.

This afternoon when I started the car to come home from work, the CEL was on. Rather than clear it, I left it on because I wanted to try out my new software to read the code via laptop when I got home.

Note to the readers – with the next few paragraphs, I digress a bit to tell a funny (?) story related to today’s CEL. Afterwards I will get back to the issue at hand, with the question at the very end.

About one-half mile from work, while waiting in line at a red light, the engine turned itself off because of the CEL, with every light in the dashboard lit up like Father Christmas. Tried to re-start, but no luck. I pull the clock fuse. Standing in the middle of a relatively major intersection (you Houstonians will know this as Barker Cypress, southbound over I-10, on the north side) I am struck with anxiety. While there was little traffic at the time, in about thirty minutes to an hour, I would be hearing every curse word in the book, because of blocking rush-hour traffic.

Hmmm, what would MacGiver do? With the clock fuse in my teeth, I put the tranny in neutral to begin a slow descent down the hill in my lane…note to self, be aware that your rear bumper is seeing upcoming traffic’s front bumper. So I turn the steering wheel to the left to move over into the opposing traffic’s lane, rolling in their direction, but frigging backwards! At this point there were only a couple of vehicles coming. Oh oh, I saw at the top of the hill that their light turned green and here come more cars. I turn the wheel once more to get over another lane (oncoming traffic’s right-hand lane) and continue my backwards roll. Wouldn’t you know it…a BMW M-3 or -5 was staring at my front bumper. :o Note to all that think Houston is full of a-hole drivers…the opposing traffic actually stayed back from me as I maneuvered my car to safety, out of their way.

At the bottom of the hill is an access ramp where trucks use to haul dirt for the major expansion project of I-10. Lady Luck was again on my side, because there were no trucks there. I crank the wheel a tad more to get onto that ramp, out of harm’s way. The opposing vehicles pass, I get out to insert the clock fuse that all this time was still in my teeth, crank the car up and drive off like nothing ever happened. I will admit, that I was a bit paranoid at each intersection as I was waiting in idle, until I got home.

AND NOW THE SERIOUS QUESTION Has anyone ever experienced a CEL, that left ignored, shut down the engine? If so, what was the offending code?
 
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Andy, I don't have the answer to your question. But if it happens again, trying cranking the engine for a longer time. After about 5-10 seconds, the ECU will revert to limp home mode and the engine should start. Of course you will have limited power, etc. (and 4000 RPM fuel cut), but at least it should run well enough to get to safety.
 
i've been driving with my "rich cel" for months. Never had a problem, just got tired of resetting, since it has seemingly zero effect on the performance of the engine...
 
I Will

Why don't you just pull the code?

Please the second paragraph in my first post. I planned to yesterday, but another priority greeted me when I got home. If I don't do it today, I'll pull the code over the weekend. In the mean time, I asked if anybody experienced the same thing, so I could be thinking about something.

I'd be very curious.

But not nearly as curious as me.
 
Re: I Will

AndyVecsey said:
Why don't you just pull the code?

Please the second paragraph in my first post. I planned to yesterday, but another priority greeted me when I got home. If I don't do it today, I'll pull the code over the weekend. In the mean time, I asked if anybody experienced the same thing, so I could be thinking about something.

I'd be very curious.

But not nearly as curious as me.


ok, so what was it?
 
Forgive me for sounding stupid, what on earth is a CEL?

Please be specific in the description of such...for the less knowledgeable.
Thanks
 
Re: I Will

AndyVecsey said:
Why don't you just pull the code?

Please the second paragraph in my first post. I planned to yesterday, but another priority greeted me when I got home. If I don't do it today, I'll pull the code over the weekend. In the mean time, I asked if anybody experienced the same thing, so I could be thinking about something.

I'd be very curious.

But not nearly as curious as me.
As another BBSC owner, I've have more then my share of check engine lights. The CEL itself never shut down my engine, poor running has had it kill in those circumstances. I've also experienced a no start situation (yes I've replaced all of the relays). If you get stuck on a hill, just try to "roll" start it. I always look for a hill type parking situation in case I need to push start. For those without BBSC problems, when I develop a no start scenario, I can crank the engine until the cows come home and nothing will happen. But with just a little push and pop the clutch, it will fire right up.
 
Re: I Will

Chuck said:
As another BBSC owner, I've have more then my share of check engine lights. The CEL itself never shut down my engine, poor running has had it kill in those circumstances. I've also experienced a no start situation (yes I've replaced all of the relays). If you get stuck on a hill, just try to "roll" start it. I always look for a hill type parking situation in case I need to push start. For those without BBSC problems, when I develop a no start scenario, I can crank the engine until the cows come home and nothing will happen. But with just a little push and pop the clutch, it will fire right up.


Ever since Basch installed the AEM EMS in my BBSC car, I've not had any stalls or starting problems (besides the occasionally 6-7 cranks to start). (knock on wood)..

I also don't think the AEM throw's CEL.. (I am not sure if this is a good thing or not).. Is there an equivalent to CEL's with AEM?

thanks,

ALIENT
 
ok, so what was it?

Don't know yet.....laptop crashed. :( Reloading software as we speak. The laptop is not my internet access computer, so it is not an imported virus. It looks like a Windows gremlin.
 
Andy, what software did you get to pull the codes? I'm looking into getting that myself. I was just wondering which one you purchased and if you like it or not.
 
WOODY turned me on to it.

AutoTap made by B&B Electronics out of Ohio. Pretty slick for $200. Do a search and if you can't find anything, I'll give you the URL this evening.

I went home during lunch to double-check the instructions, and this dumbass did not follow the correct sequence on one of the steps. No wonder they keep knives out of my reach. :rolleyes:
 
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