check engine light

[jmaryt]

my L.S is in storage ,and i have been starting it occasionally to keep the battery fresh,also getting it up to temperature,and moving it a little to avoid flat spots on the tires..today i started it,got it warm,and got a 'check engine"
light,along with a rough running engine!..checked the gas cap and it was 'secure"..so am thinking maybe i got some bad gas?..any idea if this will clear itself,with continued running,or should i try some different gas and see what gives?..possible water contamination?..any thoughts?..thanks!

[panther2469]

Originally Posted by jmaryt

my L.S is in storage ,and i have been starting it occasionally to keep the battery fresh,also getting it up to temperature,and moving it a little to avoid flat spots on the tires..today i started it,got it warm,and got a 'check engine"
light,along with a rough running engine!..checked the gas cap and it was 'secure"..so am thinking maybe i got some bad gas?..any idea if this will clear itself,with continued running,or should i try some different gas and see what gives?..possible water contamination?..any thoughts?..thanks!

Have OnStar run a Diagnostic and check the code

[jmaryt]

Originally Posted by panther2469

Have OnStar check the code

yeah!..right!..didn't think of that!..thanks!..will do!..i think i caught some s**t
gas,and am hoping just burning it up,and replacing it with fresh gas will clear the light!..this is my first car with onstar,so was not really thinkin' about them!
thanks again for the reminder!

[Synerbee]

Buy a battery tender, and starting the car up can lead to some problems

[jmaryt]

Originally Posted by Icandrivejustnotlegally

Buy a battery tender, and starting the car up can lead to some problems

can you be more specific?..what problems?..kinda curious!..i ask because just simply starting the car and getting it warm shouldn't cause any problems!..am i missin' something here?...if it's an incorrect procedure,would appreciate the reasoning behind the comment!..thanks!

[kylenewman]

because everytime you start it your putting unneeded stress on the engine. Also if you don't run it for 20-30minutes at operating temperatures(actually driving it) you may not evaporate all the moisture leading to excess water in your oil/engine. Ask 10 people how to store a car and you'll get 10 different answers.

I personally over inflate the tires, fill it up with treated fuel drive it till circulate the stabilizer, then park it and forget about it. Especially a car this new doesn't need much TLC during storage. I also put damp-rid in the interior with dryer sheets all around the car.

[Redskinfan72]

In order to protect my car for winter I bring in a Witch doctor who performs an elaborate series of rituals...Only runs me like $1000.00...

[Rip]

Originally Posted by jmaryt

can you be more specific?..what problems?..kinda curious!..i ask because just simply starting the car and getting it warm shouldn't cause any problems!..am i missin' something here?...if it's an incorrect procedure,would appreciate the reasoning behind the comment!..thanks!

As a PP noted, one of the worst things you can do to a vehicle is continuously operate the engine at low temperatures for short periods of time. Always put a good fuel stabilizer in the tank and over inflate the tires. I don't have to store my car, but this is what I always do to my boat and trailer. If you're not running that engine long enough and at high enough RPMs to evaporate the accumulated moisture, it will lead to water in your fuel and in your oil.

[y2k king]

Originally Posted by Rip

As a PP noted, one of the worst things you can do to a vehicle is continuously operate the engine at low temperatures for short periods of time. Always put a good fuel stabilizer in the tank and over inflate the tires. I don't have to store my car, but this is what I always do to my boat and trailer. If you're not running that engine long enough and at high enough RPMs to evaporate the accumulated moisture, it will lead to water in your fuel and in your oil.

+3 on that.

[jmaryt]

Originally Posted by kylenewman

because everytime you start it your putting unneeded stress on the engine. Also if you don't run it for 20-30minutes at operating temperatures(actually driving it) you may not evaporate all the moisture leading to excess water in your oil/engine. Ask 10 people how to store a car and you'll get 10 different answers.

I personally over inflate the tires, fill it up with treated fuel drive it till circulate the stabilizer, then park it and forget about it. Especially a car this new doesn't need much TLC during storage. I also put damp-rid in the interior with dryer sheets all around the car.

ok!..i do do that!..i don't drive it,and the starting IS infrequent,however i bring it to operating temperature,and keep it there for a short while,then shut it down!..having difficulty understand ing how this can "stress" the engine,as the car is meant to be started and brought to operating temperature!..i put in some gas treatment,and i do move the car to eliminate possible "flat" spots on the tires...on a more current note,i plan to start driving the car over the road in less than a month...thanks for the input!..i believe i "caught" some crap in one injector as i got the car "coded" and that issue is what the code is pointing to!..the dealer was 'conferenced" in with onstar,and the dealer feels the check engine light will reset itself,because the engine has already "smoothed" out,however the "light" is still illuminated and is a "steady" light,NOT a "flasher!"..dealer also stated that once it is on the road again,to "fill " it with a different gas,and "hammer" it to blow it clean!..which ,of course i will do when that time comes!..i think the sensor will reset it self in a few days!....again!..i appreciate the input!

[Rip]

Originally Posted by jmaryt

ok!..i do do that!..i don't drive it,and the starting IS infrequent,however i bring it to operating temperature,and keep it there for a short while,then shut it down!..having difficulty understand ing how this can "stress" the engine,as the car is meant to be started and brought to operating temperature!..i put in some gas treatment,and i do move the car to eliminate possible "flat" spots on the tires...on a more current note,i plan to start driving the car over the road in less than a month...thanks for the input!..i believe i "caught" some crap in one injector as i got the car "coded" and that issue is what the code is pointing to!..the dealer was 'conferenced" in with onstar,and the dealer feels the check engine light will reset itself,because the engine has already "smoothed" out,however the "light" is still illuminated and is a "steady" light,NOT a "flasher!"..dealer also stated that once it is on the road again,to "fill " it with a different gas,and "hammer" it to blow it clean!..which ,of course i will do when that time comes!..i think the sensor will reset it self in a few days!....again!..i appreciate the input!

If you're not actually driving it, it isn't getting up to the proper temperature. Sitting at idle won't do it, even driving it at low speeds or low RPMs usually won't.

[TooCool5]

Running rough probably = water in the fuel, add dry gas.

[GARYSSS]

Originally Posted by Rip

As a PP noted, one of the worst things you can do to a vehicle is continuously operate the engine at low temperatures for short periods of time. Always put a good fuel stabilizer in the tank and over inflate the tires. I don't have to store my car, but this is what I always do to my boat and trailer. If you're not running that engine long enough and at high enough RPMs to evaporate the accumulated moisture, it will lead to water in your fuel and in your oil.

I think everyone is way over reacting to starting the car and letting it heat up 1 or 2 times a month during storage. If cold start up is not good for your car, everytime you start it all winter long is hurting it no matter how far or long your driving it. So if you use your car everyday for work and it's gets cold while your working 8 hours, you are starting it cold twice a day which is doing 60 times more damage a month than this guy is. Plus if what your saying is true, you should never jump in the car to run to the bank or store if it's only a mile or so away because your only driving for like 3 minutes each way and your not getting up temp no more than letting it idle for 15 minutes. I'm sure many people drive less than 5 miles to work everyday. If your getting moisture in your oil and fuel from this so are whole lot of others including you if you have ever run to the store and went back home on a cold morning. JMO

[hot ss]

i bet the rough run, is fouled plugs. in startup, the car is crazy rich.
at my shop, we let cars idle to temp, then drive very nicely around the block
and park up front. we refuse to rev out or bad customer cars.
too many short starts can really hurt a car.
my buddies bodyshop had to spend over 1k to change the plugs in a mercedes cause it was short started too many times.