Author Topic: Abolish the CEL? YESYESYESYES!!!!! (Read 725 times)

vdk · « **Reply #20 on:** January 18, 2012, 02:43:09 am »

Quote from: rrocket on January 18, 2012, 02:24:16 am

Quote from: vdk on January 18, 2012, 02:07:32 am
Solid CEL = cycle key 50 times it'll go away
Flashing CEL = trouble

Not on my Audi....

Did you try? CEL codes should clear, maybe some do? I know I had one on the old car and it did.

rrocket · « **Reply #21 on:** January 18, 2012, 02:53:37 am »

Quote from: vdk on January 18, 2012, 02:43:09 am

Quote from: rrocket on January 18, 2012, 02:24:16 am
Quote from: vdk on January 18, 2012, 02:07:32 am
Solid CEL = cycle key 50 times it'll go away
Flashing CEL = trouble

Not on my Audi....

Did you try? CEL codes should clear, maybe some do? I know I had one on the old car and it did.

Of course. But it's German/Audi. Why would they follow any type of intelligent standard?

tpl · « **Reply #22 on:** January 18, 2012, 05:24:37 am »

I believe that flashing CEL is showing that misfires have been detected. Which as far as the EPA is concerned means that the catalytic converter could then get damaged and you would shortly destroy the planet.

sailor723 · « **Reply #23 on:** January 18, 2012, 06:15:23 am »

My Cadillac SRX had messages that scrolled in the message centre along with a warning chime. (I know, I saw them often enough

)
Stuff like "service stability control" "service ABS" etc etc

tpl · « **Reply #24 on:** January 18, 2012, 07:29:50 am »

Quote from: sailor723 on January 18, 2012, 06:15:23 am

My Cadillac SRX had messages that scrolled in the message centre along with a warning chime. (I know, I saw them often enough )
Stuff like "service stability control" "service ABS" etc etc

the ones you mention are not OBD but Cadillac's own. But if Cadillac can do that for its own messages then it could do it for OBD as well...which was the whole point of this thread.

richink · « **Reply #25 on:** January 18, 2012, 08:24:26 am »

Agreed.

The CEL on my SiR is an effing nuisance, although it's only come on once in 250,000 km.

The one's on my last 2 Volvo's could/can be cycled and extinguished without a code reader. Never had to do it yet on the S60 but it was handy as hell when my previous 850T was a senior citizen.

Snowman · « **Reply #26 on:** January 18, 2012, 08:37:46 am »

Quote from: rrocket on January 18, 2012, 02:53:37 am

Quote from: vdk on January 18, 2012, 02:43:09 am
Quote from: rrocket on January 18, 2012, 02:24:16 am
Quote from: vdk on January 18, 2012, 02:07:32 am
Solid CEL = cycle key 50 times it'll go away
Flashing CEL = trouble

Not on my Audi....

Did you try? CEL codes should clear, maybe some do? I know I had one on the old car and it did.

Of course. But it's German/Audi. Why would they follow any type of intelligent standard?

I take it the honeymoon is over with Das Autos?

5 Wheel Drive · « **Reply #27 on:** January 18, 2012, 10:49:09 am »

I think a few years ago Ford came out a light on the dash beside the CEL that simply said 'check gas cap'. That alone will eliminate a lot of uneeded trips to the dealer for ccel's that are on. I thought that was smart.

With the modern things in cars that are capable of displaying text, at least give the option to scroll through a menu somewhere to find out what exactly the code is. The car is already telling you, all it needs is a better way to display it.

aquadorhj · « **Reply #28 on:** January 18, 2012, 11:47:27 am »

my old Honda Fit would have its CEL light up after a night of block heater being plugged in(-15 and under). I thought it was gas cap, but Honda didn't really think it thru for Fit, as apparently, I was told it was because of the intake temp sensor conking out when plugged in.

CEL would go out after a week or so. then would come back when we had cold spells.

safristi · « **Reply #29 on:** January 18, 2012, 12:05:35 pm »

Johnx send your post to all the Automakers......and we will all wait and wait for a cogent reply......................

all politics prolly....don't want to UPSET the dealeships profit boat...Imagine all those $60 fees disappearing......and then excuses like the customer will have to pay$$$$ 'S Hundreds of dollars for that Hi Tec amazing INFO

,and they just won't do that

..could be a good laugh eh!!!! many won't respond or Give U a Dear JohnX letter....i.e fack off in a nice way.....

tenpenny · « **Reply #30 on:** January 18, 2012, 12:29:03 pm »

To the original point, does anyone on here think that 'the average' driver would be served by anything more than a CEL? The 'average' driver can barely drive, and the concept of checking the oil or tire pressure is beyond them. I doubt that anything other than a CEL would be of value.

richink · « **Reply #31 on:** January 18, 2012, 12:30:22 pm »

Nail hit on head, in every respect!

erich · « **Reply #32 on:** January 18, 2012, 12:35:43 pm »

You can get your error codes read for free at some auto parts stores.

When you have the code, you have to understand it, usually do some more troubleshooting under the hood and then know what and how to replace/repair. Most of this is beyond the ability of the old lady who has trouble connecting her printer.

I see it as a good thing to know that something is wrong, but it does take a professional to fix it. It is no different from a strange noise under the hood. A dishonest mechanic could take advantage of an innocent client, with or without a CEL.

Cord · « **Reply #33 on:** January 18, 2012, 12:42:12 pm »

Quote from: tenpenny on January 18, 2012, 12:29:03 pm

To the original point, does anyone on here think that 'the average' driver would be served by anything more than a CEL? The 'average' driver can barely drive, and the concept of checking the oil or tire pressure is beyond them. I doubt that anything other than a CEL would be of value.

That was my point also. So the average driver sees "faulty oxygen sensor", then what? The average driver has no clue what that is anyway. The cynic in me says that if such a system saved some diagnosis cost, it would just be made up for in increased parts costs.

IMO, the proposed system would really be of benefit only to the automotive "1%" that could actually use the information.

safristi · « **Reply #34 on:** January 18, 2012, 02:16:20 pm »

GOD if U naysayers are RIGHT there is no Help for Society..........

a person can't understand !!!

......."Gas Cap loose"....""FUEL LINE blocked"....."Oxygen sensor needs attention".

then if that is the SAD CASE...make the warnings SIMPLER.....

"Tighten the farking gas cap loser!!!"......."stop putting leaded gas /diesel in the tank"......"yer spark plugs are GONZO..replace them or i'm gonna send Luigi to break yer knee caps...capice"......"SHOW these messages to yer service mechanic and breath Garlic all over him till he offers to FIX THE PROBLEM for $19.99"...............

DKaz · « **Reply #35 on:** January 18, 2012, 03:25:23 pm »

Get a Scangauge II/e for $149/$99 + tax shipped or what I have an Ultragauge $102 including taxes shipped. Monitor your fuel economy AND check CELs. Done. Never mind saving money by not having to bring my car to a dealer to get the CEL checked, I estimate my Ultragauge will save me 100L of gas over 10,000km since I have partially modified my driving habits since getting this thing. It pays for itself.

my2cents · « **Reply #36 on:** January 18, 2012, 03:48:16 pm »

Is this a commercial for Onstar?

Don't they read the codes for you? Then talk to you.

wing · « **Reply #37 on:** January 18, 2012, 10:40:14 pm »

Most new cars now report average FE so the scan gauge is redundant. Although most may not understand a lot of people would and it would save hassle for sure.

rrocket · « **Reply #38 on:** January 18, 2012, 10:52:59 pm »

Quote from: wing on January 18, 2012, 10:40:14 pm

Most new cars now report average FE so the scan gauge is redundant. Although most may not understand a lot of people would and it would save hassle for sure.

The scangauge is more than that..at least for saving fuel. You can see when the car is in lean burn, you can see throttle positioning opening, etc. I don't think anyone buys them just for FE average. I know the Insight people use it to tell them EXACTLY when they are in lean burn.

DKaz · « **Reply #39 on:** January 23, 2012, 06:56:29 pm »

Quote from: wing on January 18, 2012, 10:40:14 pm

Most new cars now report average FE so the scan gauge is redundant. Although most may not understand a lot of people would and it would save hassle for sure.

A lot of built in FE computers are 5-10% optimistic aka it's telling you you're using 6.8L/100km when in fact you're using about 7.3L/100km. Plus with a lot of dashboard displays, if you're displaying average fuel economy, you can't display trip KMs. I'll stick with my Ultragauge even if my next car displays average FE.