[scallywag]

I have just bought my first Saab, a 9000 CSE and I like it loads but the check engine light is beginning to bug me. It comes on occassionaly when I start the engine and stays on, it then will stay on until I have done a few miles and then eventually go out. It will also occasionaly come on, mid trip and then disappear again. I have tried to count the flashes as mentioned in this forum but it always goes out whenever I try it. Has anyone had this problem before or know of what it could be?

 

[Mark B]

Welcome to Saabscene.

Please tell us more about the car, i.e. model and year. Are you doing the "flash check" correctly, i.e. turning on the ignition and waiting?

 

[scallywag]

The car is a Saab 9000 CSE, Its on an L plate so I think its '93. Its the 2 litre non-turbo model. To do the flash check, I am turning the ignition on but not starting the engine and waiting. The really annoying thing is that when I do the test, it always goes out as if there were no problems, but the "check engine" still apears at random times.

 

[StephenA]

My H reg had a fault when the Check engine light came on when Iwas going down hill using the engine to check my speed. It wouldn't show up if I did a ignition on check. After about 6 months of this it eventually decided to show up on a power up check and it turned out to be the knock sensor. I suspect that sometimes you get a transitory problem which makes the light come on but for some reason it doesn't get remembered by the ECU.

Steve

 

[microcat36]

I had this right up to the time i cleaned the iac valve, no check light since, so it was ither the valve or the plug on the valve.

 

[scallywag]

Many Thanks, good suggestion. I will try doing that at the weekend. It would make sence because when the car idles from cold occasionally the revs drop a bit low. Once it even stalled. Mabe this adds strength to your point that it could be the IAC valve