"Service Vehicle Soon" ????

[C598LS1]

Tonight, i take my car out to run some errands. I look down on the DIC for no reason, and i see that message displayed. No check engine lights, no other malfunctions, nothing....car operates normal, all guagues functioning properly, etc etc.....oil pressure good, etc. Car drives smooth and is fast as usual. No difference in performance. So this makes me nervous...as to why this message would be displayed. Its a 1998, which has 13,8xx miles on her. The weird part is, that after i shut the car off, i went to the store for about 15min and when i came out and started the car, the message never displayed. It never came back on. The trip to the store is about 3-4 miles in each direciton. Any ideas as to what this could be?

 

[sorbet02]

mabey your fuel cap is loose or there is not a good seal around fuel neck.........

 

[C598LS1]

hmm....fuel cap? i'll check that, but its pouring outside right now as it has been for the last 4 days....what else are possible explanations...i know it most likely (hopefully) is something stupid....

 

[sorbet02]

my owners manual says i may be electrical,p2-106, do you have a after market radio ???????/ that may be the the problem. or mabey something got wet .

 

[C598LS1]

The car is 100% factory stock right now, minus the window tint. I've had no choice but to drive it for the last few days, and in this constant rain....not sure what wouldve gotten wet from the outside. The window was down this morning on the way to work at the dunkin donuts drive through for my coffee and the inside got really wet on the drivers side door-dont know IF/why that would cause this message to show up hours later...i wiped it down as best as i could after that incident. Other than that, nothing couldve gotten wet....except the outside/underneath the car.


I just want to make sure its nothing severe like engine/trans/ecm problems.

 

[LLC5]

Check for codes through your DIC. Turn your ignition on, hold options button down, and push fuel button four times. Any stored codes will be displayed.

 

[C598LS1]

Check for codes through your DIC. Turn your ignition on, hold options button down, and push fuel button four times. Any stored codes will be displayed.

Ok, so i did that and got the following two codes total.....

HVAC - B0361 H

28 TCS - C1281 H


No other codes in any of the systems. Is this serious?

 

[Patrick]

C598,
Both are history codes, so they may not be currently affecting your system. We have a link in THIS THREAD about how to pull codes, and get them interpreted. I did a check on your codes, and this is they refer to:

99-HVAC Heater, Ventilation, Air Conditioning
B0361 H - Left Actuator Feedback Short to Ground

28-TCS Traction Control System
C1281 H - Steering Sensor Uncorrelated Malfunction

So, this doesn't appear to be related to ECM problems. Has the service engine soon light continued to stay on?


-Patrick

 

[bobby1]

hmm....fuel cap? i'll check that, but its pouring outside right now as it has been for the last 4 days....what else are possible explanations...i know it most likely (hopefully) is something stupid....

Oh my god- a vette in the rain!!:cry

 

[LLC5]

Clear the codes with the reset button and see if any come back. The TCS 1281 is usually a bad steering wheel sensor at the base of the steering column. If you have an aftermarket warranty, it might be covered. Nothing serious, but I would keep checking for codes.

 

[C598LS1]

C598,
Both are history codes, so they may not be currently affecting your system. We have a link in THIS THREAD about how to pull codes, and get them interpreted. I did a check on your codes, and this is they refer to:

99-HVAC Heater, Ventilation, Air Conditioning
B0361 H - Left Actuator Feedback Short to Ground

28-TCS Traction Control System
C1281 H - Steering Sensor Uncorrelated Malfunction

So, this doesn't appear to be related to ECM problems. Has the service engine soon light continued to stay on?


-Patrick

Patrick,

Thanks for the help, i really appreciate it. I will look at that thread later on tonight. The service engine soon light NEVER came on at all. I just got that message last night displayed on the DIC when i was on the way to the store. I parked, went inside for 15min or so, came out and started it back up....no message on the DIC, and not since then, no code lights, no abnormal perfrormance, nothing. Thanks for your help.


LLC5-

I will clear them and watch for codes. I HAD the aftermarket warranty, but it ran out a couple years ago i believe.


:L @ the rain comment.

 

[silver98]

C598,


28-TCS Traction Control System
C1281 H - Steering Sensor Uncorrelated Malfunction

This is the cause of the SES light. My 98 went through its phase with the same code and symptoms. There is a diagnostic to perform which will determine if the sensor is faulty. Its in the Service Manual, but as I recall, it basically uses an OBDII reader to determin if the sensor will provide +/- 2.5 vDC when the steering wheel is turned from stop to stop. If the sensor is fine, unplug and reconnect the weatherpak from the EBTCM (above the differntial on our 98's). When you unplug it, check the connectors to ensure they are clean and free of contaminants. The reconnect with some dielectric grease on it. IF the sensor is bad, its a PITA to replace. The steering column has to be removed to access and replace the sensor.

You can also check if the connector from the SWPS is connected and tight. Its at the bottom of the column, accessed from insside the cockpit.

HTH,
Joe

 

[C598LS1]

This is the cause of the SES light. My 98 went through its phase with the same code and symptoms. There is a diagnostic to perform which will determine if the sensor is faulty. Its in the Service Manual, but as I recall, it basically uses an OBDII reader to determin if the sensor will provide +/- 2.5 vDC when the steering wheel is turned from stop to stop. If the sensor is fine, unplug and reconnect the weatherpak from the EBTCM (above the differntial on our 98's). When you unplug it, check the connectors to ensure they are clean and free of contaminants. The reconnect with some dielectric grease on it. IF the sensor is bad, its a PITA to replace. The steering column has to be removed to access and replace the sensor.

You can also check if the connector from the SWPS is connected and tight. Its at the bottom of the column, accessed from insside the cockpit.

HTH,
Joe

Looks like i'm in for a treat if thats the problem.