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The Wizard
12-24-2005, 12:57 AM
Hi folks,

This is my first post here so be gentle with me ;) .

Two days ago we bought a used 99 Caravan SE with the 3.3L engine. While my wife was out in the van this evening the 'service engine soon' light came on. I did some research on here and other places on the web and discovered how to read the service codes off the odometer and how to run the gauge diagnostics but when I came to try them on the van I got no service codes displayed apart from a '55' end of report code.

Seeing as tomorrow is Christmas Eve I probably have zero chance of getting anyone at the dealership (a Chrysler outlet) but I am concerned about driving the van with the light still on without knowing why it is on. I did check that the gas filler cap was tight after reading some posts regarding that and I checked the oil levels and both engine oil and tranny fluid are where they should be and very clean (in fact the engine oil looks very 'new' and the tranny fluid is a bright, clear pink colour). The van has 157,000+ Kms on it and is generally in excellent condition.

Prior to buying the vehicle we were shown some of the recent service history and within the past couple of months it has had new brake pads, brake shoes, one rear drum and at least one new anti-sway bar on the drivers side.

Does anyone have any idea why the light might be on and whether it will be safe for us to keep driving it over the Christmas period until the dealership opens up again.

Thanks for any help.

Larry

Chet42
12-24-2005, 10:56 AM
Your van requires the use of a "scan tool" to retrieve the trouble codes. (Dealer)

If the van isn't acting up or running wierd drive it (locally). The light could be on for any number of things.

Regards
Chet.

The Wizard
12-24-2005, 11:18 AM
Thanks Chet, I guess I will have to wait until the dealership opens up again as there was no answer there today.

Larry

The Wizard
12-24-2005, 02:02 PM
UPDATE

After the third trip out today the 'service engine soon' light went out :D . I read elsewhere on the web that if the computer doesn't find the fault again after three trips then the light goes out so hopefully this was just a 'blip' or a false indication. I will mention it to the dealership when they re-open after the holidays though just in case it is something more sinister.

Larry

97Ram_4X4
12-25-2005, 12:40 AM
If you have an AutoZone around they will retrieve trouble codes for no charge.I have had them check mine a few times.Just an idea before you go pay the dealer to do it.