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SES cleared on its own??? wth?

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Old 12-07-2009, 01:27 PM
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SES cleared on its own??? wth?

Recently for the past while I have had a SES because I installed obx headers and haven't put in an o2 sim yet. A couple days ago I started the car and the SES was gone, (it's been on for about 2 months)... I don't understand why it went away, the only reason I can think of is that the weather has gotten really cold and that was the first cold day (-15-20 deg. celcius)

does this make sense to anybody? I thought the light could be burned out but that seems unlikely... anybody who has any ideas please chime in.

BTW- (TC+ABS)*Winter Tires= FTMFW my car is like a tank plowing through 2 feet of snow!
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Old 12-07-2009, 01:37 PM
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Yes, the SES light can go out on it's own. The bulb should come on when the ign. sw. is moved from OFF to ON (this is the bulb check).
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Old 12-07-2009, 02:04 PM
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i ran my headers without an o2 sim for a year, the light every few months would go off..only to turn on a day later. putting the sim in, never had an ses since..
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Old 12-07-2009, 02:27 PM
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The light will go on and off based on the number of key cycles.
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Old 12-07-2009, 02:46 PM
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The MIL can clear itself (depending on the code), or it could have burned out; lthough this is Maxima, not a VW/Audi.
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Old 12-07-2009, 03:42 PM
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My SES light will go off when I change to different gas stations (Shell, BP, Sunoco) each time I fill up. Been off for 5000 miles now ... knock on wood.
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Old 12-07-2009, 04:03 PM
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the SES light comes on during certain conditions. I don't remember the exact numbers, but let's say the ECU detects something wrong with your o2 sensor. It will not throw a code right away. It needs to detect that problem 3 times in X amount of time. If it does it will throw the code. If it does not it will store a ghost code. If the o2 seems to start working again after the SES light comes on, ie the condition does not happen 3 times in X amount of time, the light will go out.
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Old 12-07-2009, 08:55 PM
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When my thermostat was going bad and when I had a P0139 code, they would come and go for a couple months before the SES light would come on and not reset itself.
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Old 12-08-2009, 04:26 AM
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You will probably have a pending code (one which does not illuminate the SES lamp).

I also get on/off P0138 cycles which may be sometimes a day, a week, a month, who knows. Just gonna replace that sensor because no matter how minor it is, it's there for a reason & I hate staring at that SES lamp.
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Old 12-08-2009, 01:54 PM
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yeah it could be whatever was throwing the code was intermittently working/failing so its best to just replace it soon. the code will go away once the ECU senses nothing is amiss, but will return when it does. and when i said code i meant light...the light will turn off. the code will still be stored until you clear it.
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Old 12-10-2009, 10:34 AM
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How do you read the SES light codes and where can I find the code list. My SES lights is now on. Darn!
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Old 12-10-2009, 10:57 AM
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Originally Posted by hawnboy
How do you read the SES light codes and where can I find the code list. My SES lights is now on. Darn!
Autozone.

Search the .org
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Old 12-10-2009, 03:10 PM
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Ditto on "X" of number of key turns the SES will go out and will return with the condition is recognized. BTW, did you install your own headers? I am looking for any suggestions and/or recommendations because I am about to install my own. PM me please.
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Old 12-12-2009, 04:40 PM
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Originally Posted by hawnboy
How do you read the SES light codes and where can I find the code list. My SES lights is now on. Darn!
a] go buy an OBD II code reader
b] go to autzone they read for free
c] go to your dealer and pay $110 or more

to read the code list, most OBD II codes mean the same thing regardless of make or model.
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Old 12-12-2009, 08:51 PM
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mine comes on and goes off every few days for my 0420
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Old 12-13-2009, 07:10 AM
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Originally Posted by Col Ronson
a] go buy an OBD II code reader
b] go to autzone they read for free
c] go to your dealer and pay $110 or more
d] put the ECU in diagnostic mode 2:
1) turn key on
2) wait 3 sec
3) fully press accelerator 5 times quickly
4) wait X (X=12 sec - time_it_took_to_do_step_3)
5) press accelerator until SES starts flashing, release accelerator

Flashes are the codes.
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Old 12-13-2009, 11:41 AM
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FWIW i had a bonneville that had a ses light all spring/summer and during the winter it went off until the spring again..
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