engine light comes on

[kuulbots]

hi vr commadore .The orange check engine light comes on stays on sometimes & sometimes doesn't. whats check enginge actually mean as when it came on the first time I checked the oil which was slightly over full ,water, steering fluid & everything seemed fine, engine wasn't hot & was running OK. I got back in started the car & it was off, drove home without it coming on again. just to verify check engine light looks like a orange straight six motor with a fan in front of it & with a exclamation symbol in the middle, yeah? I don't know as I don't have a original VR manual & the repair manual doesn't show anything about dash lights. Any ideas to point me in the right direction to fix this problem would be greatly appreciated thank you.

[jonesboy1]

see if this helps http://jonesboy1.com/aldl.htm

[kuulbots]

thanks jonesboy I tried what you said bridging pins 5 & 6 then turning key to second position so dash lights are on & i got the following codes 12. System pass ,31. Theft deterant signal missing { the key battery is a bit flat i dunno if that is it or if the car alarm straitfeild car radios installled might have someting to do with it} a 46. No crankshaft referance signal while cranking { I wasn't cranking the motor & the motor wasn't running} & a 47. No crankshaft 18x referance signal. After seeing these codes I still don't know what to do to fix the problem except maybye take the key to be replaced buy holden & thats $140 unless anyone knows a cheaper way to fix it should i do the test with the motor running as well or will this mess up the codes or worse ruin the diagnostic computer
thanks

[auc05l]

Id say by getting strathfield to fit an alarm your computor thinks the original has been tampered with, wouldnt be too warried if its all working, for the referance signal ones, these are for your crank angle sensor, located behind the harmonic balencer, when these fail you have no starting. Might be worth investigating a bit so you dont get stranded. once this is done (or do it first just to see if it happens again or if it was a once off thing) disconnect your battery for 2 minutes to clear codes. Just to note when you connect it back up take it for a 15 min highway drive taking it easy, apparently it reprograms how you want it to perform, your hip pocket will be better off for the better economy.

[garfa]

apparently it reprograms how you want it to perform.

sure does. when i was driving my parents ford it started chaging harder from 1-2. they never figured out why the change got softer when i stopped driving it!

[jonesboy1]

The best money you will spend is to buy a good repair manual, which will take you through all the codes and test proceedures for that code (sometimes just a dirty connection) the repair manuals are ok for most stuff but dont show all, but for about $35 you will save yourself that on your first job.

[Matty o]

does disconnecting the battery for a bit then takin it for a 15 min highway drive work for a vn?

[garfa]

yup it will work on a vn. but as you drive your car it adjusts anyways, just slower.

[Matty o]

oh rite ok so if i drive it quick on the lil drive, it will be programed to go quick and use more fuel,but will it be vice versa if i drive it slow. really im just looking for economy.