I tuned up my 03' Sport (V8) - 85K mi this weekend. I went a head and did the seafoam treatment for the 2nd time since I've owned it (bought it new). I sprayed the throttlebody directly and then used about a 1/4 can through the PCV valve vacuum line. The rest went in the tank. After pushing it through the pcv line I got a CEL and lost my VSC\TRAC. I tried reseting the EFI without any luck. Tried again this morning and the lights were still on. My wife drove it to the store and it stayed parked for almost the entire day outside in the sun...

Then this afternoon, I went to go take it to the local autozone to get the CEL code. Almost 1/2 way there and I realized that the CEL was gone as well as the VSC/TRAC lights.... I'm not sure how the problem fixed itself unless it was a brief misfire and the OBDII just needed time to clear the CEL. Only other possibility is that the sun dried any moisture that may've been causing problems on a sensor (SWAG).

I'm thinking the Root cause was either O2 or VSV related from the research I've gathered. However, since the CEL went out I may never know for sure. I avoid the dealer as much as possible. My truck has only been to the dealer once for the sulfur TSB. Do you think I should take it in or not worry about it since the CEL is gone? I really don't like dealers...

Thanks,

JK

 

Unless the CEL rears its ugly head again, I wouldn't take it to the dealership. You'll just end up waisting your time and not finding out anything new (can you tell how I feel about the dealership by the statement )

 

Thanks.. I don't care for them either. I've done all the maintenance since it was new. I don't trust a single dealership to work on my stuff.

 

hey man..OT, but where in N.va are you from?

 

I lived in Woodbridge most of my life. I just recently moved to King George near the Stafford Co line to get away from what it's turned into over the years. I still work in the city and commute via I95... Roughly 55 miles 1 way. I'm a sick man..

 

it probly had misfire codes from running the seafoam thru the intake system.most any time we do a DECARB service on one which uses the same procedure we have to reset the light.it only takes a very small mis fire to trigger cel.likely all it was,when system checked again all was ok

 

Makes sense and misfire sounds right. It did seem to stumble longer then usually on start up. Then it ran extremely quiet but rough like it was missing on a cylinder. How long does it take for a CEL to clear on it's own if the problem is corrected?

For example:

Let's say I had to replace the o2 in my scenario.... After installing the new o2would I have to clear the code manually, or would the computer detect the new sensor?

 

Makes sense and misfire sounds right. It did seem to stumble longer then usually on start up. Then it ran extremely quiet but rough like it was missing on a cylinder. How long does it take for a CEL to clear on it's own if the problem is corrected?

For example:

Let's say I had to replace the o2 in my scenario.... After installing the new o2would I have to clear the code manually, or would the computer detect the new sensor?