Check Engine Light Help!

[Texas_RS]

So my fiancée took our English bulldogs to the vet this morning, which is about 45 min away from home, and she calls me saying the car stopped, she possibly ran out of gas, and the check engine light is on.( she not really good at checking to see about the gas being in the car). So long story short, she managed to get someone to stop and get 1 gallon of gas, and made it to the gas station for more gas, but now the check engine light is still on. Is it common for the check engine light to come on for no gas? What issues can occur? Did she probably cause damage to the vehicle? If she drives it, will the check engine light go off eventually, cause she says the camaro is working fine now?

[Sir Nuke]

well since you have a v6, no matter what kind if gas she put in it, she didn't hurt anything because if that.....and you are going to have to take it in to get the CHECK ENGINE LIGHT reset, regardless of what made it come on, so they should read the code and see why it came on.

[nyrfan]

I have read on here that letting these cars run out of gas is not good, it does something (damage) to the fuel pump. I'm sure the more knowledgeable will chime in.

[Smileybgh]

Why no gas? Is the gauge not reading properly and is that why she ran out of gas? If the gauge is not reading properly due to a fuel sending unit in the fuel tank, it could cause a CEL too. Best would be to have the CEL checked to have a starting point on diagnostics.

[Kadet1]

I had my check engine light come on once. It was because the gas cap wasn't put on properly. Take the cap off put it back on again and start the car and the light should be off. My wife has a Pontiac and has the same thing happens if you don't click the cap at least three times the light comes on. You may have to get the light reset but I'm sure there is no damage.

[dkp2LT]

Originally Posted by Kadet1

I had my check engine light come on once. It was because the gas cap wasn't put on properly. Take the cap off put it back on again and start the car and the light should be off. My wife has a Pontiac and has the same thing happens if you don't click the cap at least three times the light comes on. You may have to get the light reset but I'm sure there is no damage.

This was my first thought also.

And as I always say in these types of threads - everyone should get a cheap ODBII reader to read & clear their own codes. Else have access to one at a part store like Advance Auto where they will read/clear for free.

[Texas_RS]

She told me the gas light was not on when it stopped, I would have went out there to help out but I'm currently at work which is about 1 1/2 hours or more outside of where she stopped. She is taking it to the dealership when she gets back, we have an extended warranty.

[Kadet1]

My neighbor has a code reader and reset it for me. It has been 10000 miles so far and hasn't come back on yet and I don't fill up until my low fuel light comes on which I'm sure is a bad habit. I was also told putting in some bad gas can cause the light to come on.

[BlueSteele]

It could be any variety of things. If your Onstar service is still active, they can remote diagnose it for you.

Maybe an engine stall (P1599)
Maybe a misfire (P030x, x indicating the cylinder that misfired)
Maybe a multiple misfire (P0300)
Maybe a P0171 or P0174 (system lean bank 1 or 2)
Or it may be some kind of EVAP vacuum issue?

Regardless, you should have it checked out. It is more than likely not threatening to the Camaro and whoever checks it out can clear it or if you continue to drive it for at least 30 miles the light should clear itself if everything is ok.

[Texas_RS]

Thanks for all the info guys, I'll let y'all know what the issue/ solution is once it's at the dealership. Just didnt want her driving it all the way home if it may cause more issues, but so far it's driving fine

[gutterball]

If you have On Star, give them a call, tell them you have a check eng light and have them do a diagnostics.

[Chrisrp454]

I have ran out of gas once, no check engine light came on.
And fuel pump is fine what was about 20,000 miles ago.
In a V8 tho.

[Scalded Dog]

Originally Posted by dkp2LT

This was my first thought also.

And as I always say in these types of threads - everyone should get a cheap ODBII reader to read & clear their own codes. Else have access to one at a part store like Advance Auto where they will read/clear for free.

In CA (Nanny state from HELL!), it USED to be that one could drop into AutoZone or Kragen whenever a CEL popped on... they'd scan it, then ya buy your parts, ya fix the problem. But... mechanics rallied the CA legislature to make this illegal here (mechanics were "losing business" to all of the chumps out there who "fix their own cars!")... and now, parts stores can no longer provide this service! No big loss, as it motivated my to drop a $hunski$ on a decent OBD scanner, which has turned out to be one of the best shade- tree- mechanic investments I ever made.

[90503]

Originally Posted by Scalded Dog

In CA (Nanny state from HELL!), it USED to be that one could drop into AutoZone or Kragen whenever a CEL popped on... they'd scan it, then ya buy your parts, ya fix the problem. But... mechanics rallied the CA legislature to make this illegal here (mechanics were "losing business" to all of the chumps out there who "fix their own cars!")... and now, parts stores can no longer provide this service! No big loss, as it motivated my to drop a $hunski$ on a decent OBD scanner, which has turned out to be one of the best shade- tree- mechanic investments I ever made.

If the car is running fine, no worries...a cel takes a while to "learn" to come on, and a while to "learn" to go off...

....Mine has come on twice, both because of just the gas cap...Even our fabulous owner's manual says the majority of the time the cel comes on is due to the gas cap....