Well, I have the Check Engine Light on with a message about service being required. I ordered a Foxwell scanner the same day to find out more, but is there any way to extinguish the CEL? I was able to remove the message by pressing the 1/2 buttons on the stack, but the CEL stays on. The light came on after an extended period of idling and stop and go at low speed, I checked fluids and oil was a small bit high so I am not sure if that is related. I sucked out the surplus to the top line on the dip stick. Car is idling and driving fine, so I don't suspect a misfire yet. Any advice would be helpful!

 

I always keep a basic bluetooth OBD2 scanner in my cars so I can check the codes and such at any time. The ELM327 knockoffs are 6 bucks on Ebay and work okay for this purpose.

 

Foxwell will be able to read and clear codes. Nothing you can do in the meantime without the tool I'm afraid.

 

Good to know, thanks! I guess I will avoid driving it in that case.

 

You can get them read at autozone? They should be able to clear them too.
Matt

 

Autozone had occurred to me but for whatever reason I figured that they could not read A.M. codes or clear them. They can for BMW, Land Rover, Jaguar etc. so I am not sure why I concluded that. I may stop by in the interim while I wait for the Foxwell to show up and see if they can help. Thanks!

 

They should be able to read the generic OBD codes. There are 2 OBD plugs on an AM though, so they need to read from the correct one. (left side if I remember correctly - they are labeled).

matt

 

How did you remove the excess oil? I've tried a turkey baster but it is way too slow.

 

Went to Advance Auto Parts and bought a pump that screwed to a quart and gallon container and eyeballed the dipstick how high over it was and pumped out roughly that much on the dipstick. It wasn't much, maybe 2 cups at most. Total cost $7.99 and an almost empty 1/2 gallon of milk about to turn...

 

Autozone did indeed work. Code P0174, Left bank lean OR rich...that is as specific as they could get. They were able to clear the code. The 5 miles back home did not get the light to come on again so I assume it is intermittent...

 

Once you have your own reader you can watch the fuel trims while driving and see for yourself if any of them are particularly high.