After putting about 200 miles on it the service engine light just came on. I was looking over the invoice from the mechanic shop at the dealership and noticed this
"CHECK ENGINE LITE ON CODE P1131, P1151 FOUND NGV CODE, INTERMITTEN CLEAR CODE, ROAD TEST, CHECK ENGINE LITE OFF NOW"
Can someone explain to me what this means ? I have the car under warrantay so I can just take it in to get looked at but I can't take it in for another 5 days. If I just do light driving for the next 4-5 days (say 100 miles) do you think this is safe?
edit: Also the light came on shortly after I had to accelerate faster than normal to switch lanes on the highway. Hope that gives you guys some extra info.
< Message edited by smokeandride -- 11/18/2007 6:31:10 PM >
1131 and 1151 means you are running lean. Don't drive until you fix it. Why would a shop just clear a code without fixing it??? That doesn't add up. Shutting off the light doesn't make the problem go away.
How serious is this? Really the soonest I can get it fixed is on friday, is a quick 10min drive twice a day for a couple days really going to ruin my car ?
Actually, according to my code reader book; P1131 is Lack of Heated Oxygen Sensor Switch- Sensor Indicates Lean... P1151 is Lack of Upstream Heated Oxygen Sensor Switch- Sensor Indicates Lean Bank 2...
So LilRoush is right, it's running lean... Bank 2 is one of the exhaust sensors. Believe it's the passenger side. Not sure if it's before or after the cat converter...
Oh, and driving it is optional... My 2000 v6 automatic is running lean; no cats, O2 sims, K&N cold air, 7lb. Billut Aluminum driveshaft, Roush GT suspension and it keeps up with my 07 v6 manual till I hit 3rd gear... My 2000 is modded to run lean and have no prolems with it...
What could have happened is it was running lean for a bit, enough to set the code. Then it stopped. So when you took it to the dealer, they hooked up the scan tool and the code was in there, but it wasn't current. That's the way it's described with GM cars, anyway. Basically, the problem is gone, but the code is still in the computer, hence the light is on. Depending on the code, the ways to get rid of it are usually to clear it using a scan tool, or some clear themselves after so many ignition cycles of not seeing the problem.
If the check engine light hasn't come back on since then, then there's no problem with driving the car.
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ORIGINAL: code3GT
I have never heard of a non-brand name car....would that be like a Fred's Fun Wagon?
I had the same problem with my car when I bought it ... turned out to be a 'flash air' leak around the MAF sensor in the airbox. Air has to be entering somewhere that the sensor hasn't told the computer to adjust for. Safe to drive as long as you keep your foot out of it, especially if you hear any ping/knock (with the check engine light on). As soon as the computer finds the 'lean' condition, it should automatically compensate, but it can only compensate after the lean (bad) condition is detected.
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Check Engine light on. Safe to drive? - 
