Can Seafoam set a catconverter check lite?

dosMarkos8to's

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Just bought a '96 base.Drove it 250mi. home @70-80 mph on Interstate. No check engine light came on. Filled up with super unleaded and a can of Seafoam (treats 8-30 gals), dumped the whole can in. after driving another 45-50 mi. on local trips....check engine light comes on. Stopped @ Advanced Auto to get code check to get an idea of whats up...said catalytic conv.
Car runs fine. Question: can the Seafoam doing its job cleaning out crap be responsible for the CE light? If so will the code disappear or, how to reset it after the Seafoam is out of the system?
 
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I doubt using seafoam in that manner would cause any issues. Even using it as a top end decarboner it isn't likely to cause any issues.

What is the error code number, a P042x?

I would guess that the codes were reset before you bought it, and you finally got it to kick off the catalyst monitor check and it failed and set the code.
 
Unhook the battery cables for a minute then reconnect them. Computer should reset. Your Advance store should also be able to reset it with a code reader. Some stores say they can't in order to protect their relationship with local repair shops. Just ask to borrow the reader yourself and reset the computer. I bought a cheap Actron That was on sale for $50, it's a handy tool.
 
auto zone in my state told me they can't legally clear codes anymore.
they will let you borrow the code reader though, so that's the loop hole.
 
OK,so are you all saying to just keep resetting the computer to turn off the CE lite. If it keeps resetting that code...any advice on what to look for, like maybe finding a better code reader...O2 sensors. The cats have not changed color from over heating. I have another '96 LSC for a parts car that I could swap out the exhaust systems, that car has no codes set and 110K on the clock.
The process of finding out why someone would sell a great appearing car with only 62K on the clock....can be a real uh-oh! so far the tach is stuck..the headlights are done (it is a Gen 1 after all!) setting cat-conv code, drops to the ground @ nite with this cold weather...fortunately the body, interior and drive train act like they should with only 62K on the car.
Thanks for being there with much appreciated feed back.
Dos
 
Well you still haven't given the code number so we're all just guessing here.
 
Resetting it when you haven't done anything is counter productive unless your trying to sneak it through emissions testing or selling it and the buyer doesn't check for not ready monitor testing.
 
OK,so are you all saying to just keep resetting the computer to turn off the CE lite. If it keeps resetting that code...any advice on what to look for, like maybe finding a better code reader...O2 sensors. The cats have not changed color from over heating. I have another '96 LSC for a parts car that I could swap out the exhaust systems, that car has no codes set and 110K on the clock.
The process of finding out why someone would sell a great appearing car with only 62K on the clock....can be a real uh-oh! so far the tach is stuck..the headlights are done (it is a Gen 1 after all!) setting cat-conv code, drops to the ground @ nite with this cold weather...fortunately the body, interior and drive train act like they should with only 62K on the car.
Thanks for being there with much appreciated feed back.
Dos
 
There is no emission testing in Texas, I didn't think to ask the code #. According to the car fax, the car failed California emission tests 2 times....both times came back within 10 days and passed.No details about the failure. I will get the codes reread on Friday and come back with the #. Sorry and thanks.
Dos
 
If you pull the battery to reset the codes, when you first start it up just let it idle, don't race the engine, for about 5 mins. The brain will learn much quicker. You don't know what the old owner put in the tank. When I lived in CA, I had 3 cars fail emissions, bad gas caps. Once I didn't tighten the gas cap on my truck, and CE light came on in 20 miles. Get a code #. When I got my 94 with 57K, the tach got stuck at 900rpm. Took it out, cleaned the connectors, and it works well now.
 
Go to the auction site and get yourself a Actron CP9125 code reader, they also show it on the google video site in action. None of the problems you have mentioned are out of the ordinary, and are all very fixable and can be fixed with a little mechanical ability and desire. To get your star ship fully functional again is going to also take some money as some of the aliments you car has are do to parts wearing out, and there are some procedures/mods that you should also make on this car to give yourself less problems in the future. Having a parts car handy is a bonus as it will give you the opportunity to have anything (fasteners etc) that you need for backup. After you get the CEL problem resolved I would suggest you tackle your front air struts. They are probably dry rotted, that wwhy the car falls at night. If left unrepaired your compressor is soon to crap out due to overload and excess moisture. I love air ride on our cars so I would suggest going to American Air and ordering new FOMOCO struts and send him your LSC compressor and have it rebuilt for the current car. You will want to do the intake resonator delete (saving the air filter box, leave the big hole open to inner fender). This makes access to the air ride compressor easier to do. Then go on and do a Complete J Mod on the transmission. Depending upon tire wear and brake conditions, you may then want to refurbish them and the front suspension components. All told for about $1,000 you could put this car back into like new mechanical shape. It's exactly what I did to my 96 DD that now has 185,000 and running like a clock. The worst problem I have experienced is the IMRC's not functioning. I had J tear down the intake, clean the IMRC's, replace the bad actuator, block off the EGR, and get the chip reburnt to stop the EGR Valve from functioning. (this was a job I just couldn't do because of health reasons). All these above have been well covered either in this forum or LOD and you should have no mysteries to worry about. There are plenty of knowledgeable people hear that can answer you questions.
 
Well you still haven't given the code number so we're all just guessing here.
The car is up on stands doing a brake job. Busy work schedule has slowed that down. Will be this weekend before the brakes are done and I can get it to town to get code read. Sorry....look 4ward to getting that code and hearing your feedback.
Thanks
 

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