Outback 'Check engine' light

[Phil (3)]

Hi:

We have a 1997 Legacy Outback. Around 91k miles. The Check engine light came on yesterday. What are the most common reasons for this? I checked the oil, it's ok. Car has an automatic. We really don't have the $$ right now to take it in for service

Thanks,

 

[Mickey]

Hi:

We have a 1997 Legacy Outback. Around 91k miles. The Check engine light came on yesterday. What are the most common reasons for this? I checked the oil, it's ok. Car has an automatic. We really don't have the $$ right now to take it in for service

Thanks,

May be no more than gas cap not sealed properly. Some auto parts stores can and will put a reader on the car and tell you what code has come up, no charge but hoping you'll buy the needed parts from them.

Mickey

 

[Phil (3)]

May be no more than gas cap not sealed properly.

Mickey

Thanks. The gas cap was my first thought. We had been doing some shopping & stopped to fill the tank. I noticed the indicator light after filling the car up. But I was the pasenger and the light may have been on some time before that ...

 

[Henry Paul]

AutoZone will read the codes for you for free. Once you know what the code is, post it here. It will help us tell you what to look for.

 

[Subbies Two]

Thanks. The gas cap was my first thought. We had been doing some shopping & stopped to fill the tank. I noticed the indicator light after filling the car up. But I was the pasenger and the light may have been on some time before that ...

In some years and model, the CEL light may not go off immediately after you correct the gas cap fault. It may take several start cycles to clear the fault. Not sure, but I recall something like 10 power up, power down power cycles.

If you have an Auto Zone store near you, they will usually check the codes free of charge.

In my experience, the second most common cause of CEL codes is some fault problem in the emission system, or its related components (frequently a defective sensor). It can be something as simple as a defective spark plug wire, if you are lucky.

Have it diagnosed, and keep us posted.

 

[Phil (3)]

Thanks for the replies. I haven't yet heard if the light came on again today. She works a couple miles away so I told her to take the car & keep a eye on the warning light. If it's still on . . . . I'll take further action. Luckily there is a Auto Zone just a few miles away from here.

--Phil--

 

[Mickey]

Thanks for the replies. I haven't yet heard if the light came on again today. She works a couple miles away so I told her to take the car & keep a eye on the warning light. If it's still on . . . . I'll take further action. Luckily there is a Auto Zone just a few miles away from here.

--Phil--

Don't overlook the possibility that gas cap isn't sealing due to some "dirt" around the filler neck or on the rubber gasket. I was having a sim problem a while back and wasn't able to cure until I wiped down the filler neck and took off the rubber gasket and cleaned real well.

Mickey

 

[Swanny]

Once you get the code read, go to http://www.obd-codes.com to decipher it.