Pontiac Maintenance Light Reset

[Andrew Pugh]

So today the Service Engine Soon light came on my family’s 2001 Montana. It’s got a little bit more than 89,900 miles and I know the air filters are due to be replaced at 90,000 miles. The oil was changed just a few months ago prior obtaining the vehicle and according to the sticker is not due for another until around 92,000 miles.

I do suspect there is a minor engine performance problem as the tach does not hold steady at idle as well as a problem, likely the shocks, in the rear suspension (to my knowledge, this vehicle has an air suspension but I’m not entirely sure), but I don’t believe either are related to the light.

I am not concerned about the light, but as I am learning how to be a mechanic, my family is allowing me the chance to reset it myself before we take it to a shop. As a note, I do not have access to a scan tool due to summer break so I am hoping there’s a way of resetting the light without one.

I’ve already looked around a little bit on the internet and found nothing but information I feel is inaccurate due to people seemingly confusing the Service Engine Soon light with the Change Engine Oil message or the Check Engine light. I have found no mention of how to reset the light in the owner’s manual either. I have seen Eric’s video on resetting a GM van maintenance light, but I don’t think the procedure will work for GM minivans and I also think the light shown in the video is for the oil life monitoring system, not the Service Engine Soon light.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

Topic

[Joe]

the oil reset procedure should be just pumping the gas pedal 4 times, holding on the 4th until the oil message goes away.

As far as the service engine light goes, you’ll have to fix whatever problem is making it come on. You can clear the codes with a scan tool, but it will just come back on. Get the code(s) and post them here and we’ll do our best to help you figure out your issues.

[Andrew Pugh]

[quote=”quickNpainless” post=101940]the oil reset procedure should be just pumping the gas pedal 4 times, holding on the 4th until the oil message goes away.

As far as the service engine light goes, you’ll have to fix whatever problem is making it come on. You can clear the codes with a scan tool, but it will just come back on. Get the code(s) and post them here and we’ll do our best to help you figure out your issues.[/quote]

My issue is not how to reset the oil system, that’s in the owners manual and involves the trip button on the odometer and cycling the key, but that’s still not the issue. The issue is how do I turn off the Service Engine Soon light, which is separate from the oil message you are talking about and the check engine light, which is not lit apart from the normal bulb checks.

[Its me]

If you don’t have a scanner the easiest way is to disconnect the negative cable for 30 seconds or so and then hook it back up…

Also, if you get a check engine light you should always at least know what the code is before you choose to ignore it and or erase it.

As much as you may not understand it, having OBD 2 system with a check engine light helps a lot…. In more ways than you can probably comprehend…. So don’t just turn off the check engine light and think… wow this is great, I fixed it…. the light is a warning and helps out with diagnosis…. so don’t just reset it without getting the code pulled and understanding what is going on. ALSO unless the problem is fixed, the check engine light most likely will come back in a few miles anyway..

If you ignore a misfire code you may get catalytic converter or engine damage, you ignore a rich condition, you may prematurely burn up your catalytic converter…

Since you are not a tech but want to be one let me say this… ignorance is not bliss and what you don’t know can cost you lots…

Karl

[Andrew Pugh]

[quote=”ToyotaKarl” post=101993]Since you are not a tech but want to be one let me say this… ignorance is not bliss and what you don’t know can cost you lots…[/quote]
And in this case, what I didn’t know was that on some vehicles, including this one, the Service Engine Soon light is the Check Engine light, not a maintenance reminder as I had believed. I should have looked at the dash more closely sooner and noted the lack of the traditional check engine light before assuming the meaning of the light.

So we’re going to take the vehicle over in a couple days to a parts store that offers free code reading and then I’ll go from there.

[Chris]

You can go to Autozone and some other auto supply stores and get the code read for free. That way you can know if you can fix it or need to pay a mechanic. Here is a page with Pontiac codes.
http://www.engine-light-help.com/pontiac-check-engine-light.html You can also find auto repair manuals in most public libraries but you can’t check them out.

[Author]

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