A little help, please?

[embabe]

So I have 2 questions this time:
1-- I got into my tj this morning and noticed my check engine light was on. I immediately start to worry as I don't want anything to happen to my baby! So I called my uncle Dave who told me to take it to autozone to have them scan the codes for me. He told me to bat my eyelashes and stuff... anywho, by the time I got down there after work the check engine light was already off! Any ideas on what I should check first or what the problem might be?

and

2-- I'm working on the sound system in my jeep and need advice on building an enclosure for the 2 8" subs I have to put in the add-a-trunk. Also, what size are the sound bar speakers? I have one website tell me they're 5.25" and another tell me they're 6.5", so I bought a tape measurer just for the jeep, but I'm not sure where to take the measurement from.

I swear I'm not a blond! But I may be a little brain dead from all the studying for finals next week. I'd love any input I can get!

 

[notajeep]

probably an o2 sensor going bad.

 

[embabe]

How hard is it to fix? Will it cost me alot?

 

[DaveB]

How hard is it to fix? Will it cost me alot?

Em,
There are two oxygen sensors on your TJ. One in front of the catalytic converter and one after it. They are easy to swap out. I have a spare sensor that goes after the catalytic but Dan snagged the other one for his TJ. I think he still has his old one which had some wires bared from rubbing on his shifter cable. I think the sensors are in the $50-75 range. Did you have them scan the codes even though the light went off ? I think the codes stay stored even after the light goes off. As far as your speakers go I have built lots of them and can show you how to figure out the optimal enclosure size. Just bring over the specification sheet that hopefully came with the speaker.
Dave

 

[Caleb]

if it is an o2 they are very easy to replace, but I dont know about cost, prolly not too bad if you dont go through the dealer.

 

[embabe]

They told me it was no use to scan the codes because the light was off. I asked them if it stored them and the guy said no, so I came home to work on homework. Should I go back and have them do it?

 

[olywrestle]

The computer will store the codes, so it will tell you.

sometimes a piece of carbon can come off the plugs and get caught in the o2 sensor making it go off. then it breaks loose and gets out of the system...thus causing the CEL to go off. if it is off, i wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Caleb]

I dont kow about TJs but my F350 PS does not store the codes. I also know that a lot of vehicles will have a period that if you drive without the error ocurring again it will clear the codes, both my truck and my wife's jetta are like this.

 

[bobdog]

Where did the "it is probably a O2 sensor" come from? Don't spend a dime untill you get the light again. What ever the problem was has stopped making trouble so hope it does not come back. When it does, fiind out what it is and fix it. Leaving a gas cap loose will turn on the light on a OBD2 system. Remember also that even when a code reads trouble with a sensor it does not always mean the sensor is bad.

 

[embabe]

How long would it store the codes if it did?

 

[olywrestle]

varies car to car, becasue once the code is set it the computer will cycle through everything/all of its test/functions...and if it is not there, it will clear from memory. the time it takes for the computer to go through the codes varies too greatly too say.

I do agree 100% with bob dog, don;t do anything until it comes on again.

And also, like bobdog said, just because the code for a sensor goes off, doesn't mean that's what it is. So personally i would take it to an actual shop that will check to see what is setting off the code, rather than just checking the code itself...it won't be free, but then you are not just throwing parts at your vehicle in hopes of fixing the problem which in the long run wastes money

 

[4x4phil]

The computer will store the codes until it's reset or clears itself. I'm not sure either if the jeep cpu stores them. I've noticed that the guys at autozone (especially the one downtown) don't know crap about cars. They, the downtown guys, also have the most awful customer service I've ever seen. He probably was just finding an excuse to blow you off...that bastard. But in anycase you can rarely find a parts guy that really knows what they're talking about so don't take their advice. Most of them aren't mechanics and are really only good for looking up part numbers. So next time just tell him to humor you and do it anyway. If the light's off don't worry. Don't guess either. It really could have been any miniscule thing so don't start spending money til you know. The gas tank cap thing mentioned isn't bs. Some cars do that. So you never really know until you get a code. Personally I wouldn't even worry until it comes on again. Then go get it checked. By the way, good job on the cute girl needing help thing. You see how well it works. I mean, I never get this kinda response to my threads.

 

[Meat_]

If the light comes on once for a short period and you don't see hear or smell anything out of line don't sweat it until it becomes persistent or you see hear or smell something out of line.

 

[crimsonride]

Hahaha, it fixed itself. I love it when they do that. As for speakers. Measure the part behind the mounting flange that protrudes back. So the size of the hole would have to be how large for it to fit? That's how to figure it out.

 

[embabe]

By the way, good job on the cute girl needing help thing. You see how well it works. I mean, I never get this kinda response to my threads.

Wow, thanks everybody! I bet you're all just helping me out in hopes that one of these days I'll catch on, right? Well maybe if I bat my eyelashes a little bit more at the Autozone guy next time he'll do what I ask, right? At least thats what my uncle Dave said...
So I pretty much am taking it that I shouldn't be panicked and that I should just wait till it happens again (if it does, which I hope it doesn't) and get to Autozone ASAP, right? I just hope my car's just not outside falling apart at this very moment, because I think I'd cry!

 

[Meat_]

...Autozone guy next time he'll do what I ask, right?...

That's assuming he is capable of..... well anything really.

 

[Johnny4X4]

check this ha ha

my light comes on so much that i bought a code reader so i could see what it was and fix it.

i freaked out the first time and changed alot of stuff, and then when it came on again, i took it to the dealer and said here , whats wrong with this jeep. he said it has alot of sensors, and if everything is just right when the timer says it should be, then the light comes on.

and if you put gas in, you gotta get that cap tight-- mine looked good, but it was bad so it was the cause of the problem

so, if your worried about it, let me know and i will read the code and clear it for you. (anyone else who needs this also, not just cute girls)

 

[Johnny4X4]

Em,
There are two oxygen sensors on your TJ. One in front of the catalytic converter and one after it. They are easy to swap out. I have a spare sensor that goes after the catalytic but Dan snagged the other one for his TJ. I think he still has his old one which had some wires bared from rubbing on his shifter cable. I think the sensors are in the $50-75 range.

on this, i bought both from auto zone-- bosch ones-- and then had to go back and get the one for the catalytic converter from the dealer-- the bosch had a cover over the top of the sensor and would not fit in the hole-- the upper one fit fine..

 

[anvil]

On some Jeep's, I don't remember the years, you can read the codes without a scanner. You turn the ignition on off on off on. Then watch the check engine light it will blink out the codes. For example if it blinks 3 quick blinks pause two quick blinks long pause then 4 quick blinks pause 5 quick blinks that would be a code 32 and a code 45. I'm sure you can look up what the numbers mean online somewhere.

 

[Johnny4X4]

you can do that only on the 97 for the tj