Check engine light help!!!

[adharris70]

I bought my 2005 LR3 back in Feburary and my check engine light has come on twice since then, the first time it was on and went off a couple days later and now it's for the second time. Is it possible that it could be showing up because I'm using 93 octane and the previous owner may have used a lower grade gas?

 

[schafari]

No. Using 93 octane would not cause the light to come on. Technically, you could run regular gas and it would not throw a code, it would simply be down on power and try to make up for it via timing, etc. Ensure you tighten the gas cap at all fill-ups. If you don't, it will throw a code that would then disappear after a few cycling on/off once it is tightened.

 

[Disco Mike]

You need to get the codes read when the light is on, do not wait. Most auto parts stores will read the codes for free, get back to us with the 4 digit fault codes numbers.

 

[nwoods]

I don't think 93 octane gas is the cause of a CEL. There is an outside chance it could be the O2 (oxygen) sensors. There are 4 of them, 2 on the headers, and 2 towards the rear of the exhaust system. If the PO used bad gas, there could be carbon build up on the sensors. Also, if you are approaching 75,000 miles or over, you might consider replacing the spark plugs, although that has nothing to do with the CEL.

However, my money is on battery or alternator. You are at the normal end of life cycle for those particular components. I'm not sure if an auto parts store can read the LR3's fault codes. It's not a fully compliant OBDII system. However, a dealer certainly can. If the parts store can read the codes, please let us know! (I never tried that approach, so Mike might be onto a really great idea here!). My normal approach was to buy several Grande Starbucks coffee's, show up early at the dealership before the service meddlers (service advisers) got in the way, and talked to the tech's direct. They like coffee in the morning, and they would hook up the IDS computer as a favor....

 

[gtc]

However, my money is on battery or alternator. You are at the normal end of life cycle for those particular components.

+1

I'm not sure if an auto parts store can read the LR3's fault codes. It's not a fully compliant OBDII system.

They may not be able to read the particular code that threw the CEL, but the OBDII system should be 100% compliant, else selling an LR3 in NA would be pretty tough.... LR has likely added numerous of their own codes to the system along with the required OBD codes - remember the CEL is only required to be lit for emissions related faults, but often lights up for other reasons as well, if the manufacturer so desires.

However, a dealer certainly can. If the parts store can read the codes, please let us know! (I never tried that approach, so Mike might be onto a really great idea here!). My normal approach was to buy several Grande Starbucks coffee's, show up early at the dealership before the service meddlers (service advisers) got in the way, and talked to the tech's direct. They like coffee in the morning, and they would hook up the IDS computer as a favor....

+1 - this typically works quite well around here!

 

[Disco Mike]

They can read your codes, they just may not have the proper definition of that fault code number so get back to us with it.