Check engine light went on and went off after a week, normal?

[WISHYWASHY]

Few weeks ago, my check engine light went on along with a blinking O/D off light, I put in more transmission fluid and my mechanic turned off the light for me.

A day or two later, it went on again but the O/D off light turns off on its own after a day or two, since then I started to warm up my car longer before driving and over the weekend the light for check engine turns off on its own.

The car currently idles fine, switch gears fine, tried it with both OD on and off, ECT in power and normal and everything seems good.

Should I be concerned that the light went off on its own or is this normal? I always thought once the car throws on the check engine light, it needs to be checked and reset before the light goes off.

If it makes a difference, it is a gen3 94 V6 auto.

[hill8570]

If the malfunction that caused the CEL to turn on "goes away", the light usually will go out. However, the code is still stored in the ECM's memory if someone would like to take a look at it.

[WISHYWASHY]

oh good, hope nothing is wrong with the car, and I will be sure to ask my mechanic to read me what the problem code was about next time I go to the shop

i think the first time was about something about the clutch, since my mechanic said it was most likely transmission fluid and nothing serious I didn't bother asking the details.

[bigbird]

it wouldnt be a problem with the clutch, you dont have one on an automatic. but if its possible id get it scanned soon. if the CEL was corrected by replacing fluid then you may need a change(old or bad fluid) or have a leak. the only way your gonna keep the car healthy when it comes to the tranny is to be proactive.

you can get it scanned at most autoparts places for free. a dealership or shop will likely charge you.

[frenum49]

Your car threw what is called a soft code. This means that during one of the on-board monitoring sessions one of the parameters fell out of range. If the MIL goes out, the error, whatever it was, no longer applies. If a hard code had been thrown the MIL would stay illuminated until outside action is taken to correct the situation. The code history will stay in the computers memory until erased.

[WISHYWASHY]

thanks for the answers, will probably take it in to my mechanic just to be safe and see what the code was all about, he doesn't charge me for scanning or when it is only something simple.

come to think about it, I don't think he asked me for money for the transmission fluid either.

[WISHYWASHY]

i took it to the shop again, had my mechanic read me the code and it was P1705 Direct Clutch Speed Sensor Circuit Fault.

i mean the light is off now, should i be concerned?

[hill8570]

Originally Posted by WISHYWASHY

i took it to the shop again, had my mechanic read me the code and it was P1705 Direct Clutch Speed Sensor Circuit Fault.

i mean the light is off now, should i be concerned?

I'd get under the rig and inspect the connectors at the transmission to look for an obvious connector issue. Other than that, don't sweat it.

[WISHYWASHY]

Hi. this may sound stupid but I don't think my mechanic knows where this thing is, at least he is not telling me like some other places that I need my entire transmission replaced

I mean I trust this guy that I have been fixing my car and don't want to take the car to another place for this problem

after searching for this CEL code most of the post are referring this as to a speed sensor, does anyone know where this is located on a 94 camry?

I mean the light has been off since, it went on twice in the past 2 months and first time was reset by my mechanic, 2nd and 3rd time it went away on its own, both time I start my car in the cold without warming it up and it comes on, not sure if it is related.

[73sport]

Should be concerned if you added more than 1.5qts of fluid.

FYI: the direct 'clutch' in a auto trans is what gives the car the ability MOVE in any direction when you select gears that don't begin with "P" and "N". Failure of this clutch means the beginning of the end for your trans!

Possible; When it ran low on fluid the trans sensor detected that the ENGINE RPM was NOT giving the correct output speed for the gear selected.

Meaning; the clutch packs internal to the auto transmission were slipping and sensors picked up on the fact that Input did not equal output expected.

Meaning; that loss of fluid burned the clutch packs that make the car move as there was not enough fluid to keep pressure to the pump that keeps them engauged under load. Thus they slipped.
Sliping is friction. Friction is heat. Heat is damage. Not to mention the loss of potentially thousands of miles in a mere second of slipping because of low fluid. i.e. perhaps the sump went dry going around a corner or braking but it had enough fluid to keep the car moving for all practical purposes. Also the cold weather may slow the fluid return and pickup through the sump.
Mind you this is worst case and it could still run for a LONGGGGGGG time. Stop the leak that cause the fluid loss as mentioned above.

However, a bad sensor could do the same. Check the simple things first.

Check the fluid: What's the color and smell? Check the wiring.
Did you spin the tires on the ice/snow that day?

Contrary to popular belief, new red fluid can be burned and still be red. Its sustained heating above specification that turns the fluid colors. Well that and adding parts that don't belong like clutch friction materials, bushings, telfon seals, metal. . . .

PS Don't ever add trans stop leak! You'll learn to hate yourself.

Let us know. . .

[hill8570]

Originally Posted by WISHYWASHY

Hi. this may sound stupid but I don't think my mechanic knows where this thing is, at least he is not telling me like some other places that I need my entire transmission replaced

I mean I trust this guy that I have been fixing my car and don't want to take the car to another place for this problem

after searching for this CEL code most of the post are referring this as to a speed sensor, does anyone know where this is located on a 94 camry?

I mean the light has been off since, it went on twice in the past 2 months and first time was reset by my mechanic, 2nd and 3rd time it went away on its own, both time I start my car in the cold without warming it up and it comes on, not sure if it is related.

It's kind of up on top of the transaxle, about midway along it's length. See www.camrystuff.com, Generation 3, A541E Automatic Transaxle - V6 Automatic Transmission section, page 108 for a somewhat crappy diagram showing approximately location.

[73sport]

Originally Posted by WISHYWASHY

Hi. this may sound stupid but I don't think my mechanic knows where this thing is, at least he is not telling me like some other places that I need my entire transmission replaced

I mean I trust this guy that I have been fixing my car and don't want to take the car to another place for this problem

after searching for this CEL code most of the post are referring this as to a speed sensor, does anyone know where this is located on a 94 camry?

I mean the light has been off since, it went on twice in the past 2 months and first time was reset by my mechanic, 2nd and 3rd time it went away on its own, both time I start my car in the cold without warming it up and it comes on, not sure if it is related.

Tell us. How cold is cold there?
Can transmission fluid gell or otherwise become a near solid?

[WISHYWASHY]

I definitely spin my tires more than a few times as I had crappy tires until I changed all of them

Each time the light went on the temp was below 34F and I probably didn't warm up the car as much as I should, the first time it must have been around 15F

what smell or color should I be concern about the transmission fluid.