so i have a 2008 gt500 with 42k miles and all of the sudden my check engine light turned on after not using the car for 4 days. the only thing i have ever done to the car is a steed cai and a tune but that was 6 months ago. the check engine light just turned on today. how do i start to diagnose this problem?

 

you need to have diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) read to know where to start looking. The "Check Engine" light simply means there was a fault in the engine management system that could cause emissions to rise above what the car was certified to. It could be as simple as a loose/leaky gas cap (Which would put the check engine light on as an evaporative emissions failure) or something much more serious.

a lot of faults that put the check engine light on aren't too serious and don't cause driveability problems. a flashing check engine light is way more serious; it means there's a repeated misfire detected and you should stop driving the car unless you're ok with your catalytic converters melting down.

and since you have a CAI and a tune, you should put the car back to stock first and see if the check engine light comes on again after driving it for a while.

 

thanks for the reply. i will try to put the stock cai and put it back to stock. but its weird i had the cai and the tune on the car for some months now we no problem.

 

My check engine light came on for a loose gas cap on my 2007 Ranger, it isn't always something serious. Check your owners manual, it should discuss what to do next.

 

it doesn't matter. if you've monkeyed with the code in your PCM and the CEL comes on, you put it back to stock and see if it reoccurs.

 

thanks for the reply guys so i manage to pull the dtc code and it cade me code p0171 something about a lean code for cylinder bank 1. is this serious?

 

Lean is not good. Is the tune you have specifically for the Steeda intake? If not, I would return the car to stock until you can get a tune for that intake. If it is for the intake, then I would call whoever sold you the tune and talk to them. Lean, especially on a forced induction motor is a recipe for quick disaster.

 

yes the tune is for the steeda and i got the tune from bama thru Am. if the check engine light doesnt turn off i will put everything on stock. but for now i clean the maf and all necessary parts that might have cause this.