355 5.2 Check Engine light constantly illuminated, even after switching off battery | FerrariChat
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355 5.2 Check Engine light constantly illuminated, even after switching off battery

Discussion in '348/355' started by 348SStb, Jul 5, 2009.

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  1. 348SStb

    348SStb F1 Rookie
    Owner

    Apr 9, 2004
    2,991
    Palm Beach County, FL or Nassau County, NY
    Full Name:
    Dave
    #1 348SStb, Jul 5, 2009
    Hi guys,

    I'm running a 5.2 Motronic 1999 355F1 Spider (introductory thread to come soon!). All of a sudden the Check Engine light decided to go on and it's remained constantly illuminated ever since. I've done about 6 driving cycles and three different switchings off of the battery since its first appearance. The light goes on as soon as the key is turned and it doesn't go off.

    I'm a little puzzled. I would have thought switching off the battery would at least delay the light a little. I am concerned because I don't want that darn bulb to burn out. I've got some long drives to do and the light just stays on forever.

    Any ideas what's going on or what I can do? I am 5.2 Motronic illiterate. With the 2.7, I'd know what to do. Thanks in advance.
     
  2. No Doubt

    No Doubt Seven Time F1 World Champ

    May 21, 2005
    72,740
    Vegas+Alabama
    Full Name:
    Mr. Sideways
    #2 No Doubt, Jul 5, 2009
    M5.2 uses flash memory, so turning off the power has no impact. I'd suggest pulling the error code with a simple OBD2 scanner to see what's throwing on the light.


    *the CEL going on immediately with key may be a non-code issue such as needing to have the 5.2's memory reflashed by a dealer. That was an OBD2 issue with Corvette's with which I had some familiarity.
     
  3. J. Salmon

    J. Salmon F1 Rookie
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Aug 27, 2005
    4,367
    VA
    #3 J. Salmon, Jul 5, 2009
    Cheap OBD2 reader, then you will know.

    Ultimately, you may actually want that bulb to burn out.
     
  4. hacker-pschorr

    hacker-pschorr Formula Junior

    Sep 27, 2006
    584
    Land of Lambeau
    #4 hacker-pschorr, Jul 5, 2009
    +1
    A good reader is less than $100. On top of turning the light off, you will actually know what the problem is.

    I find it very humorous people treat the CEL like some kind of annoyance to shove aside.
     
  5. 348SStb

    348SStb F1 Rookie
    Owner

    Apr 9, 2004
    2,991
    Palm Beach County, FL or Nassau County, NY
    Full Name:
    Dave
    #5 348SStb, Jul 6, 2009
    Ok thanks guys... So I'll pick one up at Pep Boys or something? If not there, where could I get one?

    Also, where do I hook it up and how do I proceed?
     
  6. UConn Husky

    UConn Husky F1 Rookie

    Nov 11, 2006
    4,425
    CT
    Full Name:
    Jay
    #6 UConn Husky, Jul 6, 2009
    I picked one up on Ebay, but there's lots of options. Maybe quicker to just borrow one even. Plug it into the OBDII socket under the dash on the driver side and it should give you the codes. Also you can use the scanner to reset the CEL to see if it comes back on (of course depends on what problem caused the light to come on in the first place). Does your air pump still come on at startup? That's what caused my CEL when I bought the car (seller had removed the light though so nobody caught that it was being triggered).
     

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