While driving check engine light turned on?

Hi,

Is it possible for you to record the engine turning over so I can hear it? Since it sounds like it is turning too fast, it sounds like compression was lost. Although the timing belt looks good, it still could have jumped timing. If that happened, this is an interference engine and internal damage is likely.

THis video will help is fix it

https://youtu.be/vMwTzURWXmk

If you can't record it for me, I need you to check engine compression and let me know what you find. Here is a link that explains how it is done:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression

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Here are directions specific to your vehicle which indicate what to expect. The attached pics correlate with the directions.

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2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse L4-2.4L (4G69)
Compression Pressure Check
Vehicle Powertrain Management Tune-up and Engine Performance Checks Compression Check Testing and Inspection Component Tests and General Diagnostics Compression Pressure Check
COMPRESSION PRESSURE CHECK
COMPRESSION PRESSURE CHECK

Required Special Tool:
MB991958: Scan Tool (M.U.T.-III Sub Assembly)
^ MB991824: V.C.I.
^ MB991827: M.U.T.-III USB Cable
^ MB991910: M.U.T.-III Main Harness A

1. Before inspection, check that the engine oil, starter and battery are normal. Also, set the vehicle in the following condition:
^ Engine coolant temperature: 80-95° C (176-203° F)
^ Lights and all accessories: OFF
^ Transaxle: Neutral (P range on vehicles with A/T)

NOTE: On vehicles for Canada, the headlight, taillight, etc. remain lit even when the lighting switch is in "OFF" position but this is no problem for checks.

2. Remove all of the ignition coils and spark plugs.


pic 1


3. Disconnect the crankshaft position sensor connector.

NOTE: Doing this will prevent the engine control module from carrying out ignition and fuel injection.

WARNING: Keep your distance from the spark plug hole when cranking. Oil, fuel, etc., may spray out from the spark plug hole and may cause serious injury.

4. Cover the spark plug hole with a shop towel etc., during cranking. After the engine has been cranked, check for foreign material adhering to the shop towel.


pic 2


5. Set a compression gauge to one of the spark plug holes.
6. Crank the engine with the throttle valve fully open and measure the compression pressure.

Standard value (at engine speed of 200 r/min): 1,560 kPa (226 psi)
Minimum limit (at engine speed of 200 r/min): 1,130 kPa (164 psi)

7. Measure the compression pressure for all the cylinders, and check that the pressure differences of the cylinders are below the limit.

Limit: 98 kPa (14 psi)

8. If there is a cylinder with compression or a compression difference that is outside the limit, pour a small amount of engine oil through the spark plug hole, and repeat the operations in steps 6 to 8.
(1) If the compression increases after oil is added, the cause of the malfunction is a worn or damaged piston ring and/or cylinder inner surface.
(2) If the compression does not rise after oil is added, the cause is a burnt or defective valve seat, or pressure is leaking from the gasket.

9. Connect the crankshaft position sensor connector.
10. Install the spark plugs and ignition coils.

pic 3


11. Use the scan tool MB991958 to erase the diagnostic trouble codes.

NOTE: This will erase the diagnostic trouble code resulting from the crankshaft position sensor connector being disconnected.

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Let me know.

Joe

My check engine light just came on, I don't a manual and I don't know what to do. I have checked all the fluids and they are fine. Can you help me?

This video will show us how to fix it

https://youtu.be/vMwTzURWXmk

Please run down this guide and report back.

I have a 2006 mitsubishi eclipse v6. My service engine soon came on about 5 days ago. I wanted to get one of those code readers to see if I can figure out the problem myself. I was wondering what the best one would be for my car and where exactly do you plug it in?

Try Actron -Google it or just take it to Autozone and have it scan for free the location see below

Thanks for the diagram. It helped. As for autozone I tried that they only scan if the check engine light is on not the service engine soon light. But thanks for the help.

Service engine soon light on. Car runs perfectly. It is not check engine just service.
Service what?

Good afternoon,

That light is a maintenance reminder light for changing the oil. It is programmed in the PCM to remind you to change the oil.

Roy

this morning my check engine light came on and is staying on. What could this mean. its not making any funny noises and seems to be running ok

have a local auto parts store retrieve the trouble code(s) for you. could be anything from a failing sensor to something more major that is setting off the engine light.

I have owned my eclipse for a year now. Recently I noticed that my check engine light comes on when I'm on the highway. Usually when I'm crusing at 60 and decide to pass and really give it gas. Can someone give me an idea of what could be triggering the light? My car shows no sign of mechanical malfunction. I can even take the battery cable off and reset the light, and it wont come on again until I'm in the same passing situation.

Hi Natureboy,

You need a scan done to find out what is the cause of the check engine light coming on.

Based on your description, it could be the knock or O2 sensor.

I just had repairs done (water pump, air filter, and timing belt replaced) and I also had an oil change and coolant flush. But the day after, the check engine light comes on. What could be the problem? They didn't indicate anything else was wrong when they analyzed my car, so I am confused why I have the light come on after only driving like 10 miles or so.

THE 1ST THING TO DO IS HAVE IT SCANNED......MANY POPULAR AUTO PARTS STORES WILL DO THIS FOR FREE!!!!

GET THE ACTUAL CODE(S) WRITE THEM DOWN........THE STORE MAY "OFFER" WHAT THEY MIGHT MEAN, BUT THEY CAN SOMETIMES BE INTERPRETED DIFFERENTLY.....WITHOUT THE ACTUAL LETTERS AND NUMBERS, THIS END WILL BE IN THE DARK

THIS MAY BE A COINCIDENCE OR MAYBE SOMETHING THEY WAS AFFECTED DURING YOUR FIX

AN EXAMPLE OF "A CODE" IS "P0442", WHICH IS A SMALL EVAP LEAK, PROBABLY THE MOST COMMON REASON BEING CAUSED BY AN INCORRECTLY INSTALLED/ OR A BAD GAS CAP

YOU ONLY HAVE "ONE" CHECK ENGINE LIGHT.....MAYBE HUNDREDS OF CODES.....SO BE AWARE, YOU MAY HAVE MORE THAN ONE CODE, WHEN YOU GET IT SCANNED......SOMETIMES, ONE CODE "DOMINOES" OTHERS TO SHOW UP

THE MEDIC

i would bring it back to whatever garage performed these repairs, as its likely they just left a sensor connector unplugged.... if they try to charge you, and give you a big story, let us know, and we can tell you whether or not its related to the repairs that were just made.... im sure its something simple..

Well I took it back and they didn't charge me anything. Apparently the Catalytic converter code came up; however, the technician said he wasn't really concerned about it. He said that it is likely due to the repairs they did earlier because he thinks the car is running fine (apart from the light). He turned off the light for me and said to bring it back if it comes back on. But he said that my car hasn't been running well since the repairs this past Monday (10/21) and that now my car is running clean fuel and all the blockages are out, and the car just hasn't been running long enough to register with the car. What do you think? Is that bogus or does that make sense?

cat code being po420... usually means the cat is bad.... it isnt burning the unburned fuel left in the exaust gas, and once you get the code, they usually dont go away....

The "service engine soon" light has come on and I don't believe that you can use a diagnostic code reader on it, as I cannot find anything in any manuels or online about it. I checked all the fluids, which are fine and it sort of feels like its having a harder time switching into second gear, but I'm not positive. Is there anyway I can check what the light means myself?

Hi jac852004,

This is a service reminder which will show after a certain mileage and is no cause for alarm.

Get the service done and resetting it will do the job.

As for the gear changes, you might need to scan the TCM for any error codes. Sometime a change of ATF can do the job.

I have p codes 0431, 0171, and p code 0133 throwing on my 2003 mitsubishi eclipse....the gears sometimes slip and my check engine light is on....some professional at firestone has said that I might need to replace some sort of sensor close to the maf sensor....maybe the air temperature sensor? What am I to do?

you need to have it diaged properly to determine the exact failure. from the looks of your codes, the cat converter has an issue, the intake air sensor has an issue and there is most likely a vacuum leak for the 171.

Roy

I recently installed a set of headers on my car. The car runs perfectly fine but the CEL came up a day after i installed them. The code said warm up catalyst below threshold. It looked as if my stock headers had a catalytic converter on them but i am not sure. I know there is one underneath my car. I was wondering if this could be my problem and if im hurting anything by still driving it. I erased the code today and it hasnt come back up yet. I was also wondering what i could do to fix this, ive seen that you can buy o2 sensor spacers to raise the rear sensor out of the exhaust flow. Please give me your opinion. Thank you

If the light comes back on then get me the code number so I can look it up. I would say it does come back on you may need to replace the rear O2.

it came back on today...i was wondering if you would know if my car had two catalytic converters...i know it has one and the stock exhaust looks like it has one as well...the new header i put on doesnt have one so wouldnt that throw things off? the exhaust would only be goin through one converter instead of two...because i never had this problem until i recently put those headers on...i have the o2 sensor spacer coming...it doesnt do harm to the car running with the that light on does it?

Ok this no different then when I put the cat back system on my Mustang. It set the light because of having more exhaust flow. It ended up replacing both rear O2 sensors and the light hasn't come back on. So I suspect the same it with you car. You have removed the pre cat that was part of the exhaust manifold, so now the rear O2 sensor is seeing more exhaust flow (lower exhaust temp). You can try the spacer but don't rule out possibly having to replace it ok. As for driving it with the engine light on, no it won't harm it you just won't get the best mpg. If the light comes back on after the spacer please get me the actual code number so I can look into to tell you what may be needed.

Okay ill do that...how would the new o2 sensor fix it tho im confused because wouldnt it be the same as the one thats in it now? Or did u buy a better one for ur stang? So ur sayin its probable running rich because its sensing there is more o2 in the exhaust...im hopin the spacer works i just dont know how it would heat it up if its not getting hot enough now being in the exhaust flow...please reply thanks for the help

I had a cylinder that was misfiring, so i replaced the spark plugs and wires/boots, and my check engin light is still on. Before i replaced these parts a mechanic told me the problem yet after it was fixed the light is still on? i tried to disconnect the battery but the check engine light will not go off, is there any way i can get this light off myself , or will i have to have a professional do it for me?

You can do it -- I think the erase code function on your code reader may clear it. Some cars you have to turn the ey on, engine not running, then twist the odometer knob.
Its amazing how the dealers won't tell you anyhting about that. They always say "bring it in". Geez, we just want the frickin light off.

Ok if the spacer don't fix it then by replacing it you are giving it a fresh sensor. The new sensor will work on a wider band therefore correcting what it thinks is wrong. I bought stock ones for my Stang but they worked on a wider band therefore light out. Make any sense? If not just ask away. Let me know how the spacer works.

My 2003 eclipse has had a vibrating problem for a while now.its recently gotten worse (last 75,000 miles) and the check engine light just turned on a few days ago. I have almost 160,000 miles on it and I drive about 100 miles per weekday. Wen the vibrating first started, I took the car to two mechanics and neither could find anything wrong...one told me this is normal for a sports car, but it just seems to be getting worse.

More than likely the motor mounts are bad. When you replace them, you have to replace all of them and the transmission mount at the same time. If you don't the new mount will get damamged by carrying the load of the engine that the failed or failing engine mounts cannot support.
If the check engine light is on have the trouble codes pulled. Any Auto Zone or Advance Atuo will do this for free.

Car was running fine and one day I went in the store and came out and it would not start, acted like it was out of gas but it was not. After changing spark plugs, draining gas and adding new gas, throttle position sensor, camshaft sensor, ignition coil, new battery and replacing a fuse that had blown, the car finally started again but only to shut off when put in drive or reverse or when the A/C was turned on. Was told to check the mass air flow sensor, I disconnected it and the car shut off so I then removed the air idle control position and cleaned it and the car fired up and I drove it, but it was rough and loud sounding, not idling right at all, hesitant on accelerating and did not act like it knew to change gears or something. Had a kind of mist to it anyway, tried several times and it started consistent with same issues. Went to start it a minute ago and it will crank but no start. While running it made a couple popping sounds like a backfire from the motor. Any suggestions? Also, check engine light is one and give code for o2 sensor heat bank 1.

HI and thanks for using 2CarPros.com.

I need to know what code was actually set. Can you provide that for me? I need to know if it a circuit issue, lean code, rich. Also, can you tell me if you have checked fuel pump pressure?

Thanks,
Joe

Fuel pump pressure seems to be fine and in the pic is code it threw.

Welcome back.

That code tells me the sensor is not heating. I will tell you that there is a fuse that can blow as well as the sensor itself can go bad. However, that will not prevent the engine from running. Worst case, bad gas mileage.

With that in mind, since it will not start now, check to make sure the engine is getting spark and fuel. Even though there is fuel pressure, the injectors may not be firing due to an electrical issue or even a bad cam sensor.

Here is a link which shows how to check for spark:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-an-ignition-system

Here is a link which shows how to check that the injectors are working:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-a-fuel-injector

Do these two things and let me know what you find. Also, engine timing may be an issue here if the belt jumped. Let me know about the spark and fuel first and if it checks good, we will need to do a compression test.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression

This is an interference engine, so a broken or jumped timing belt may be an issue.

Let me know what you find or if you have other questions.

Joe

Thank you very much. I will do those test tomorrow. But today it started right up and stays running and is drivable so would timing be a issue? I mean it still has all the other problems though.

Computer problem
2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

hello, my name is alexander, i have a mitsubishi eclipse gt-v6, its a 2002...

i recently had some repair/replacement work done to my vehicle....

needed new radiator and thermostat

as i was driving away to go about enjoying the rest of the day, all of a sudden the SERVICE ENGINE SOON light came on. i thought that was kind of odd that had occured...

Have the computer scanned for code/s-you have a problem within the engine management system that caused the CEL to turn on-This is your starting point of diagnosis,finding out what's going on.

Hi again. If it is running good, then no to the timing. However, if it happens again, check the injectors as well as for spark when it will not start. A quick and easy way is to see if it starts with starting fluid. If it does for a couple seconds, then it is fuel related. If it does not, chances are there is no spark. Keep in mind, the only time to run the tests is when it refuses to start.

Let me know what happens or if you need anything.

Take care,
Joe

what would cause my check engine light to come on the car is not running bad or making any noises