'Service engine soon' light on 2001 Sentra... car experts?

ryanghall · #1 10-07-2005, 08:06 PM

If anyone here is really good with cars, I could use some help.

My girlfriend and I just bought a used car (2001 Nissan Sentra GXE) and the fifth time she's driven it, the 'Service Engine Soon' light has come on. The car only has 32,000 kms on it.

Is this something I need to worry about or has the computer likely just not been reset after the last oil change? Any car experts have insight into this?

Ryan

Patrick del Poker Grande · #2 10-07-2005, 08:08 PM

Close the gas cap and make sure you get a decent tank of gas next time you fill up.

mmbt0ne · #3 10-07-2005, 08:09 PM

It's very important to know if this is a 'Service Engine' light, or a 'Check Engine' light. Service Engine would imply to me that it is time for some routine maintenance that the dealer wants to do there so that you can pay them more money. Check Engine would imply an actual problem.

ryanghall · #4 10-07-2005, 08:12 PM

This is only a "Service Engine Soon" light.

To the other poster, I did tighten the gas cap about an hour ago but we started the car and the light was still on... if this is the problem would the light go back off immediately or would it take a little while?

Ryan

cardcounter0 · #5 10-07-2005, 08:14 PM

I think it means the engine requires service soon.

cardcounter0 · #6 10-07-2005, 08:18 PM

In that case, it means the engine might require service soon.

Toro · #7 10-07-2005, 08:28 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Close the gas cap and make sure you get a decent tank of gas next time you fill up.

[/ QUOTE ]

This just happened to me. I brought it to the dealership and they told me the gas cap was loose. $65.00 it cost. Try this first and save yourself some dough.

theghost · #8 10-07-2005, 08:30 PM

I am dead serious when I say the best way to fix this is to put a small piece of black tape over it. No joke.

Jimbo · #9 10-07-2005, 08:53 PM

As other posters have pointed out,either your fuel cap was loose or your evaporative control valve is faulty. It costs about $40 American to buy and is easy to replace. If you go to fill up and it is difficult to fill your tank it is the valve, if it fills normally then your cap was just loose.

The light will go out after a few days if the condition is remedied.

Six_of_One · #10 10-08-2005, 02:26 AM

I have a 2000 Sentra, and the same light is always on these days...at the dealer last time I had it in for service, they told me it was because the catalytic converter is bad, and I'll fail my next smog test if I don't replace it.

Or it could be the gas cap, who knows.