So i ran my car bone dry the other day accidently. About 1/4 a mile before it ran out of gas i noticed the check engine light.

The next day i put some gas back in (note it was 89 octane and i have a 93 oct chip - but it was under 2 gallons, so no big deal) and when i started up the car (had no problem starting at all) but the check engine light stayed on. Yesterday i put a few bucks of 93 octane in and i noticed later that the check engine light was gone.

So is the whole check engine light thing all gas related? Or was it just all extremely ironic?

 

what is the code, go to an auto parts store and have them read it if it comes back on, it is possible.

 

usually the CEL wont go away unless u clear the code

 

The code will say, low fuel level or something of that nature, nothing to worry about

 

actually, for the fuel level, it will go away.....I have run out of fuel like three times in my car....fuel pump is going bad now too......and the cel will go on and turn off once I fill up again. That is most likely the code that you have. Just make sure to get it checked to be safe.

 

thanks alot. good to know


is there a way i can check the code without paying somebody a bunch of money?

 

just go to autozone, they will check it for free. It is not the best read out description, but it is functional.

 

the CEL reset its self and store a soft error code which means the CEL wont come on unless you run out of fuel again then it will see it as a problem and set the CEL on permanently then you will need the diagnostic tool to reset it, basically what happened is normal ( they computer detects there is a fuel shortage and car cutting out ) which is normal "when you run low on fuel" not a good thing to do

 

the check engine light has been going on and off, i've put over 1k miles on it since the firs time the check engine light went on, and the VagCom i have access to is 350 miles away, and i'll be going back down there in 10 days. Would you guys risk that drive or take it somewhere to be checked and pay the cash?