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Question
my check engine light is on in my 94 eldorado how do i turn it off
Hello,
You can't just turn the check engine light off. This denotes an emissions problem. This is merely a symptom that can have have a hundred different causes.
Even if the light were to go out while driving, the problem is still there and a diagnostic code has been set. Having this emissions problem will affect your mileage, power and many different things may happen. Engine may run rough at times, transmission may not shift correctly and other things might not be correct and it all depends on what is wrong that caused the light to come on.
You can purchase a code reader at a parts store. The hand held code reader connects to a port under the dash, under the steering column. By the way, if purchasing the reader, make sure it is for 94 up. 93 and older were a different system.
Now, depending on the reader, it may tell you what is wrong and it may not, but once the bad part is replaced, the code reader should be capable of turning off the light.
If the reader shows code 13, unless it comes with a code chart and their meanings, the reader will not help you.
Now, if the reader shows oxygen sensor, you are all set. You need to ask the parts store what the reader displays.
You have what is known as a hard code with the light not going out. This means that even if you could turn the light off, it will just come right back on without fixing the problem.
The easier and least expensive diagnoses would be to take car to service center (not a dealer) and have them use their reader (scanner) diagnose and get an estimate on the repair.
I wanted to give you 2 options here.
In its current state, the car would not pass an emissions test and will not get peak performance.
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Rob Painter
Expertise
Alarm system questions cannot be answered on this forum. These systems are not what I can answer. Without being physically at the vehicle and not knowing what kind of electrical service has been done on the vehicle, there is no possible way to give an accurate answer over the internet. My expertise is in Ignition/key based anti-theft systems. These issues include GM VATS (resistor chip in key blade) PASSLOCK (MRD)-ignition lock rotation based, no special ignition key and the PKIII Transponder (computer chip in key) systems. These systems are not alarm based and are integral with the starting of the engine. This is why I cannot diagnose alarm problems without physically looking at the vehicle: Alarm systems are a completely different annimal than ignition key/lock based anti-theft system. Many alarm questions come from vehicles 10 years old, and since older, many hands that had been involved over the years.I am an expert in all GM factory (ignition/key based)systems. Alarm system questions pose to many situations beyond my knowledge as to what has been done to the vehicle over the years. Some guy may have actually wired the stereo into the alarm system. Who knows? Over my past 30 years in vehicle wiring repair, I have seen unbelievable wiring disaters done by guys that consider themselves "mechanics." I have seen stereos and alarms intalled using surgical tape. I have seen modules burn up, un-fused circuits, wiring jambed between the doors and even lamp cord used for a starter kill. To answer alarm questions over the internet without examining the vehicle is like asking; What does it take to remove a dent?
Experience
Education/Credentials-ASE certified. 11 years with a GM dealer and 17 years with a repair facility dealing with only the repair of theft recovered vehicles.
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