Knock on wood -- I've been battling the dreaded CE light for a month -- cost me $1500 so far. Based on recommendations from contributors on this site -- I'm 1/2 way through my second tank of gas with Techron and I'm running at 4K plus rpm's and the damn thing turned off. I can't believe it.
I thought for sure I would have to get it reset -- is that normal if whatever it was that turned it on, clears up, the CE light turns off??

 

Not to be a happiness crasher but they will do that every once in awhile. Mine will go off for awhile then pop back up down the road. Have you checked the code (generic or otherwise) to see what it is telling you?

 

I figured it was too good to be true. I've checked the code several times. cylinder misfires --- seem to vary relative to which cylinders. I'm fearful of a valve job as the only way out.

 

If the CE light is triggered by the cylinder misfire, then you shouldn't be heading for the valve job. I had this error repeatedly after the having the valve job done (due to secondary air intake carbon).

Anyway, a new fuel injector cured it in every cylinder that the error came up on.

fyi, the othere errors were fixed by new distributor caps and a couple of new O2 sensors

 

Dave -- thanks for the info. I've replaced my caps, wires and plugs. The 02 sensors were replaced about 6K miles ago. I have not looked into the fuel injectors -- is that a difficult/expensive repair?

 

I would agree with Dave, I think the injector direction is the next one to take..If you can get the car onto a Hammer I believe they can turn each injector off to see which is bad...

 

I don't have the details on the price/time as these were done as part of a whole series of "bug-fixes". However the injector is in the region of $175 I think, and maybe one or two hours from a professional?

I agree about the HAmmer - it'll tell you which cylinder it's a problem with.

 

Thanks for the info. Can not beat this site.

 

Dave did your CEL just read one cylinder misfire or did it read several cylinders??

 

It read one cylinder - number 3. Then another cylinder, I forget which.

Anyway, I pulled the bill. The injector was $66 and the labor about 1.5 hrs

When the injector first failed, the car went from a rocket ship to a diesel tractor in about 10 seconds. It was virtually undriveable due to the misfiring. One the second, it was more of a slight hesitation around 2500 rpm when cold.

 

Dave did you feel more of a hesitation when the car was cold??

 

Yes, it hesitated more when cold. Though the CE light came on when it was hot.

 

Thanks Dave...I guess this is going to be my next avenue to go down...