OT question?

Ok this isn't about hot rods but concerns my daily driver. I have a '01 Chevy 1500 4x4 SB V-8 SLT. The truck has about 110 K on it. Since new I have always had it maintained, I never worked on it just had the dealership or shop perform the neccesary work and my company paid for it as routine cost of doing business.
About a month ago the muffler (and tailpipes)finally rusted thru. I took the truck to the dealership for an estimate almost $450...yikes! So I went to like Midas and a couple of other muffler shops...way pricey IMO. My bro-in-law has a '03 GMC 1500 and a couple of years ago replaced his exhaust system with a cat-back dual pipe system for under $250 that he bought from LMC Truck. So that is what I did also.
I have had it on for about two weeks now, it runs fine and sounds good also. Yesterday I went to the store and when I restarted the truck the "Service Engine Soon" light came on and stayed on steady. I checked the idiots manual and of course it gives two scenarios both ending up with see your dealership and talking emission controls, etc. I'm not much of a mechanic especially on vehicles newer than mid '70's...once I couldn't see the valve covers when I opened the hood I knew better than to try and mess with anything unless I had someone knowledgeable guiding me:)

With all the computer controls etc on newer vehicles I'm wondering what I should do now? I don't want to ruin something on the engine.

Any thoughts or ideas ould be appreciated

Gary

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Originally Posted by G.R.

Ok this isn't about hot rods but concerns my daily driver. I have a '01 Chevy 1500 4x4 SB V-8 SLT. The truck has about 110 K on it. Since new I have always had it maintained, I never worked on it just had the dealership or shop perform the neccesary work and my company paid for it as routine cost of doing business.
About a month ago the muffler (and tailpipes)finally rusted thru. I took the truck to the dealership for an estimate almost $450...yikes! So I went to like Midas and a couple of other muffler shops...way pricey IMO. My bro-in-law has a '03 GMC 1500 and a couple of years ago replaced his exhaust system with a cat-back dual pipe system for under $250 that he bought from LMC Truck. So that is what I did also.
I have had it on for about two weeks now, it runs fine and sounds good also. Yesterday I went to the store and when I restarted the truck the "Service Engine Soon" light came on and stayed on steady. I checked the idiots manual and of course it gives two scenarios both ending up with see your dealership and talking emission controls, etc. I'm not much of a mechanic especially on vehicles newer than mid '70's...once I couldn't see the valve covers when I opened the hood I knew better than to try and mess with anything unless I had someone knowledgeable guiding me:)

With all the computer controls etc on newer vehicles I'm wondering what I should do now? I don't want to ruin something on the engine.

Any thoughts or ideas ould be appreciated

Gary

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I think your best bet, would be to take it to a parts supply shop and see if they can hook up their little code sensor to tell you what is wrong.

similiar thing happened to my suburban....i took it to auto zone out here, they check that stuff for free.......eneded up being smog stuff

Thanks for the response:)

Yes you need to get pull the codes on older computerized vehicles like my suburban you can pull the codes with out a "scanner" but dont know at what year they stop being able to do this. Once you get the codes pull you will/should have a better idea at your problem.

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Originally Posted by knucklehead

I think your best bet, would be to take it to a parts supply shop and see if they can hook up their little code sensor to tell you what is wrong.

similiar thing happened to my suburban....i took it to auto zone out here, they check that stuff for free.......eneded up being smog stuff

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Boy all I have to do is keep checking this site and I find all sort of information that is helpful to me. The check engine light on the 95 olds with 242,000 miles so far just came on. I want to use it as a parts car but my wife thanks I can fix it. If you don't have the money to take them to the shop you will learn one way or the other. I'm lucky I know a mechanic at an Oldsmobile garage; I give him $20 when his information helps me out and it works out pretty good. I had to replace an upper intake manifold and had no idea where to start, he said it’s a piece of cake, not for me but I got it changed. Kind of like the old saying about not what you know but who you know.

Richard

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Originally Posted by BigTruckDriver

...on older computerized vehicles like my suburban you can pull the codes with out a "scanner" but dont know at what year they stop being able to do this....

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'95 was the last year of "OBD I" for GM, where you could pull the codes by by using a jumper wire and counting the flashes of the MIL. For '96 and later GM switched to "OBD II" which forces you to actually connect a scanner.

Had the local auto Zone read the codes. Turned out it was an EGR valve. Ten minutes of work and all is well. Darned EGR valve was pricey though, at Auto Zone, $212.00 incl. tax. called the Chevy dealership and they wanted $255 + they would have it Monday afternoon? ... guess I just never paid much attention to prices for parts and things for the newer vehicles since I never worked on them. Give me an old 60's or early 70's vintage engine anyday...:)