Just like the title says. I got some seafoam today and ran a lil over half a can through the brake booster vacuum line. I poured the rest into the oil. As soon as I started the truck I got the smoke and what not but noticed my CEL was on. I figured it'd go away. Wrong. I put about 15 miels on it and changed the oil and filter. I drove another 5 miles after the oil change and the CEL is still on. I re-checked the brak booster three times and it's on correctly. The only thing I touched when I seafoam'd was the brake booster line and the oil cap, which was replaced after the oil change. I need to get a state inspection done and the CEL can not be on in order to pass!!!

Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

 

First off before we can help you we need you to get the code pulled and post it.
Also it may go off normally after 3 complete heat cycles... if the problem doesnt
reoccur.

I'm going to guess its some sort of misfire/ o2 sensor oddity crap that was temporary.

 

I guess I'll have to go to autozone in the morning to get the code

 

That happened to mine when I did it also...disconnect the battery, then wait a few minutes and reconnect, it will clear the code..let me know if it comes back on after that.

 

^^^I didn't even think of that! I'm gonna go out and try it right now.

 

Hope that works I would have suggested that too!

 

Worked like a charm! Thanks guys....now I feel dumb

 

Glad it worked for you! Gotta love the Seafoam!

 

Keep in mind that if you clear the code by resetting the PCM, you will automatically set a P1000 code (Monitor testing not complete). The P1000 does not light the CEL.

All of the OBDII monitors need to complete before the P1000 code will be erased. Some monitors are easy and clear in a matter of seconds. Others are harder to complete and may require a lot of driving.

If the state inspector sees a P1000, you may fail the inspection right there. The P1000 tells them that the PCM was cleared fairly recently and that can be interpreted as an attempt to hide a recurring CEL and trouble code.

 

I hear you with this statement, but technically if there is no CEL, there is no reason to fail it.
I assume the PCM can log many codes, but the inspection (I believe) only looks for a CEL...could be wrong, but that is how it used to work in Minnesota....

 

Wrong. They hook up a scan tool in most states and pull the condition monitors status. I have such a tool and it reports much more than current CEL's. Code reset is part of the reason for this. My tool shows all condition monitors and their status as well as any codes or pending codes. Incomplete monitors and pending codes don't light the CEL.

So you can most certainly fail with no CEL. Most states are doing this these days on OBDII vehicles.

It also might take time to come back. My guess if it does is a fouled oxygen sensor most likely.

 

Learn something new everyday! I knew the tools can pull more info than CEL's but not that the states actually use this information...I would suggest driving as much as you can before your inspection and see if it comes back on, but I have heard of this problem many times when people use seafoam, and it happened with me, but never came back on...

 

Yes, it probably is temporary and relates to the O2 sensors being "confused" by the smoke and whatnot in the exhaust stream. Sometimes O2 sensors become "polluted" or "fouled" (basically a chemical change in the sensor element) by certain additives or chemicals. This was once a problem with certain silicone sealants and such. You'll find many such products now tout they're "oxygen sensor safe" or some such thing.

 

My inspection mechanic is pretty "lenient", to say the least. I'm sure I'll be fine. Just wanted to make sure it was nothing major.

 

Mostly in PA, you need to be hooked up to a computer tool that actually transmits the results to Harrisburg these days -- he may not be able to be lenient with you, depending on his current setup.

If you're not in the "non-attainment" area for ozone though, they could be doing it differently. They're making that kind of thing harder and harder for mechanics to do -- though they can still cut you a break on your exhaust, brakes, or whatever.

 

Will Seafoam foul the o2 sensor? If it could, could you remove the o2 sensor till you get done with the seafoam or will that make the engine not run right?

 

You'll get a resettable CEL anyway if you remove it -- BUT: I have no evidence that there are any permanent changes and I wasn't trying to scare anyone. I was just speculating what it MIGHT be if his CEL were to come back again.

No one has reported permanent damage that I know of. Sorry if I got anyone worked up. Wait and see what happens with this one at least.

 

Ran Seafoam no too long ago in my truck and in Joe DeCline's and no problems. No CEL's.

BUT, and a related story, when I went in to get my smog check recently, I failed. I had never heard anything about the engine monitors being reset after you disconnect the battery and whatnot, and guess what I had done not 2 days before? Disconnect the battery to install some auxilary lights. The guy said, and it's also posted, that it could take 4-6 days with 15 minute trips to get the monitors ready or w/e. I ended up driving 200 miles, came back and it passed with flying colors. But you will fail if you have disconnected your battery recently...

 

Domo origato, Digimoto Roboto...

 

Exactly what I was talking about. In fact, some drivers in some driving conditions may have trouble clearing a P1000 for a longer time. The Catalyst Monitor in particular has very stringent entry and completion conditions. If you habitually drive in heavy traffic or hilly terrain, the Cat Monitor may fail to complete and restart many times before it can run its entire sequence to completion.

 

Hello roadtrip! lol

 

Ok, well we dont have smog tests or anything here so I dont have to worry bout that.

 

I put about a hundred miles on today going to school and back. The CEL hasn't come back on.
*Crosses Fingers*

 

Did you check to see if the P1000 cleared?