8.1L check engine light but no symptoms

Covers engines and transmissions
Post Reply
markus53
Posts: 21
Joined: Fri Oct 21, 2022 8:06 pm

8.1L check engine light but no symptoms

Post by markus53 »

Greetings all -
My check engine light is on. The coach drives normally. No loss of power. No overheating. Nothing out of the ordinary.
What would you put on the short list to check?
And how urgent?
SWMBO wants to take another trip this month before the weather gets *really* bad.
Thanks, in advance, for any advice you'd be willing to share.
Markus
----------------
Novice with 2005 Simba 30ft.
Workhorse 8.1L GM engine 35K miles
Milwaukie, OR
CactusTwo
Posts: 70
Joined: Mon Oct 28, 2019 12:06 pm

Re: 8.1L check engine light but no symptoms

Post by CactusTwo »

Could be as easy as a loose gas cap....which I have had before, but should find someone with a diagnostic reader tool or buy one for yourself. I bought a Creader Pro 129E for my Buick via the Amazon website and really works and clears codes
Len and Brenda Nugent
Alberta, Canada, fulltimers since 2012
1996 Safari Serengeti 3740 front door, bought in Feb 2019
Cat 3126 300hp, Allison MD3060, VelvetRide suspension
sold 2008 GMC Duramax 3500 and 37' Cedar Creek 5th wheel
rvtips
Posts: 82
Joined: Mon Oct 28, 2019 2:29 pm

Re: 8.1L check engine light but no symptoms

Post by rvtips »

What does [ SWMBO } stand for?
2003 Safari Sahara 3622
Cummins ISC 350 HP 6 speed Allison
Toad=2010 Honda CRV
astrnmrtom
Posts: 167
Joined: Thu Oct 31, 2019 8:49 pm

Re: 8.1L check engine light but no symptoms

Post by astrnmrtom »

There are a number of reasons you can get a check engine light and still have the vehicle drive normally. If you can, drive it to any big chain auto parts store - Oriellys, Autozone Pepboys etc, and they will read the codes for free. Depending on the issue, if it is intermittent, the light can go back out after so many restarts. As mentioned, a loose gas cap can do it, or some sensor is reading a value that's "out of range", but isn't bad enough to put the computer into limp mode, or to effect how it runs. An example is one side of the engine (bank) running a little lean, or some marginal voltage in a coil. There's no way to know without reading the codes. Think of it as you engine's computer telling you it might be coming down with something, but isn't sick enough to to stop it from working. On one of my vehicles, I had the light come on because it was low on brake fluid.

If you can't get it to a place to read the codes those same stores will "loan" you a reader. They will require a deposit or a hold on a credit card that's refunded when you return the tool.

Hope this helps.
Tom and Pris Masterson, w/ Buddy the 18 year old Siamese cat.
1998 Serengeti 3706
300hp Cat 3126, Allison 3060
900 Watts of Solar
17cf, Fisher & Paykel residential Refrigerator
Dragging four telescopes around the US seeking dark skies.
markus53
Posts: 21
Joined: Fri Oct 21, 2022 8:06 pm

Re: 8.1L check engine light but no symptoms

Post by markus53 »

As expected, it turned itself off.
----------------
Novice with 2005 Simba 30ft.
Workhorse 8.1L GM engine 35K miles
Milwaukie, OR
Post Reply