"Check Engine" light won't extinguish

The "Check Engine" light has been on on my 1990
Hyundai Excel GL (that's not a typo, I bought it
new in October of the beginning of the last decade
of the last century :O)) for several years.

Hope you've stopped laughing by now.. but it's
true, and the dealer can't get the computer chip
code to figure out why it won't go out. The car
runs great and I've kept up with all the recommended
service and various repairs here and there (I won't
list them, but a valve job was The Biggy last year
and the Second Biggy at about 5 years old was the
fuel pump) and the new Midas muffler every 18
months or so (free on Lifetime Warranty), etc.

I've had various mechanics scratch their heads and
say, "Well, if it's running right and the light
won't go out maybe you should just disconnect the
lamp in there."

It's a minor annoyance given the car's so good to
me. But I like tinitis in my ears to be the only
thing I can't do anything about as far as annoyances
go. :O)

Any ideas?

-- Just Joe

 

Gas cap loose?

Chris

 

If you go to www.hmaservice.com, the service manual should list a procedure
to get the code from the diagnostic link in the fuse box. You'll need to
monitor voltage pulses on one of the terminals. I recall it's one of the
corner terminals. You'll have a series of long pulses followed by a
series of short pulses making a two-digit code. From there, we can
surmise about the cause.

 

http://autorepair.about.com/library/ts/obd-i/bl-dtcs-81a.htm

Get the codes out of the computer and post them here.

Chris

 

I had the same issue with my '94. I drove it that way for two years. The
dealer checked it a couple of times when I had the car in for the state
inspection, but couldn't get any useful codes. He would reset the CEL,
then it would come back on within a few days...or minutes. Occasionally,
it would go out by itself. Like your car, it ran fine, so I just ignored
it. It was still on when I sold it earlier this year and still running
like a top.

 

BTW, when I checked the codes myself, all I ever got was something to do
with the EGR. I went over the EGR system and couldn't find anything wrong.

 

Thanks for your responses.

Now I'm fantasizing about figuring out how to unplug that particular
lamp without undoing the other, useful ones.

It's a '90, as I say, so I don't mind doing without the functionality
of the "check engine" lamp.

Know how to undo it?

- Joe

 

Usually, the temp sensor in the egr valve failed. The computer monitored
the temp in the egr valve to determine whether the valve was working.

 

My engine light came on at 130,000 miles. The local garage couldn't get any
useful info on the codes. The car is a 1996, Hyundai Accent, now with
202,600 miles on it. Runs as good as the day I bought it new. And, the
engine light is still on. And yes, I have changed gas caps.

Jozef

 

Hey man,

My ole car's got you beat by 4 years =-)
1986 Pony 1.6, sold it to a girl friend 2 yrs ago, she loves the car it
refuses to die.... =-) Pics:
also included is my very 1st car a 85 Pony, i really miss them alot..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/jaaribear72/1986pony.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/jaaribear72/1986ponyrear2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/jaaribear72/86ponydash.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v696/jaaribear72/1985ponyrip.jpg

 

Thanks! I'll bet that was the problem I had. I no longer have the car,
but it's nice to know that it WASN'T anything important.

 

My sister liked hers until the paint started peeling off the hood. Looks
like yours had the same issue. It's too bad, since they've improved so
much over the years. I was happy enough with my Excel that I replaced it
with an Elantra. My mother bought a Sonata and loves it. My sister is
still pissed at Hyundai and drives Dodges. Her loss...

 

Yeah, her loss, also because in the price range of Hyundais they
really hold their ground against other automobiles of most other
brands.

This '90 Excel GL I bought new has its rattles and squeaks, but it
always starts up in the Winter and the mileage is great (especially
since the valve job several months ago): 34 around town and 37 on
long trips.

The 1.5 liter engine isn't a powerhouse by any means, but it holds
its own and does 75 or 80 humming right along for hundreds of miles
on Interstate 80.

I'll keep it until it gets wrecked or I can't drive anymore. :O)

-- Joe

 

Believe it or not, my Elantra GT hatchback 5 speed will equal or even
slightly better that highway mileage @65 mph, using the cruise control
as much as possible. I routinely average over 34 mpg combined. I guess
it must be due to advances in engine technology, but I'm always
impressed when a car exceeds it's EPA ratings.

Because it's a larger, heavier car with a bigger engine, it won't equal
the Pony/Excel/Accent in city mileage, but that's no surprise.

 

ha ha does she have anyidea how doges ive seen that have peeled paint down
to the primer? lots...
my old cars paint was plain worn out, moss growing on the hood =)

 

My only regret is getting the automatic instead of the stick in
my '90. I could be getting even better mileage. But, hey, I went
from a 1980 Chevy Silverado pickup, at 12 to 15 mpg, to the Hyundai,
so the appreciation level was high immediatly. :O)

-- Joe