***** HELP *****

 

I had the CHECK ENGINE light come on while driving my 2000 Forester. Are there any common problem areas that would cause this condition? I tried removing the gas cap and putting it back on attempt to clear it (just like the owners manual says !) but the light has not cleared yet after driving around 25 miles.

 

~Howard

 

Originally posted by howards11

***** HELP *****

 

I had the CHECK ENGINE light come on while driving my 2000 Forester. Are there any common problem areas that would cause this condition? I tried removing the gas cap and putting it back on attempt to clear it (just like the owners manual says !) but the light has not cleared yet after driving around 25 miles.

 

~Howard

 

 

The CEL will not clear on its own. Disconnect the negative battery cable for fifteen minutes. It will clear your CEL (and radio presets and time).

 

If the CEL returns, most auto parts stores can diagnose it with an ODBII scanner for free. You could do this before disconnecting the battery so you know what the codes are, and then clear the codes from the ECU and see if they return.

 

Evaporative emmission purge valve, EGR valve, coolant temperature sensor are the common CEL causes for Subaru's, along with the occasional oxygen sensor. Less common ones are misfires (coil pack), oil pressure, camshaft and crankshaft angle sensors, and throttle position sensor. Most others CEL codes are very rare.

 

If a sensor is bad, the CEL should return quickly.

 

Have you noted any difference in engine running or performance?

 

Subaru dealers will clear one CEL for loose gas cap for no cost, and then they charge you for it.

The only way to clear the CEL is to disconnect the battery ? I had the O2 sensor replaced by a dealer under a recall notice just a few months back.

 

~Howard

The only way to 'clear' a code is with a scan tool. Disconnecting the battery might make the CEL light go out, but the set code will stay in memory until cleared.

Originally posted by Phillip

The only way to 'clear' a code is with a scan tool. Disconnecting the battery might make the CEL light go out, but the set code will stay in memory until cleared.

 

Correct, the code will only go from "active codes" memory to "historical codes" memory when the battery is disconnected.

 

If the situation returns, the CEL light will come back on and the code will again be stored in "active" memory.

 

Autozone or other parts stores can CLEAR the codes completely with their ODBII tools.

Thanks to everyone for their help. I understand the situation a bit better now.

 

~Howard

:wave:

Gas cap. Our 2001 Forester gave us the

CEL between TN & WA. I took off the cap which I had forgotten to tighten until the slip ratchet clicks three or more times.

 

It may take about three tanks of gas for the CEL to go out. That is with the gas cap tightened properly each tank.

The CEL is now out. It must have been the gas cap problem. Thanks to everyone for their help.

 

~Howard