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INSTRUMENT PANEL
78J00-03E
This light should come on, as a check to
show you it is working, when the ignition is
on and the engine is not running. If the
light does not come on, have it repaired.
This light will also come on during a mal-
function in one of two ways:
• Light Flashing
A misfire condition has been detected. A
misfire increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control sys-
tem on your vehicle. Diagnosis and ser-
vice may be required.
• Light On Steady
An emission control system malfunction
has been detected on your vehicle. Diag-
nosis and service may be required.
If the Light is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious
damage to your vehicle:
• Reducing vehicle speed
• Avoiding hard accelerations
• Avoiding steep uphill grades
• If you are towing a trailer, reduce the
amount of cargo being hauled as soon
as it is possible
If the light stops flashing and remains on
steady, see “If the Light Is On Steady” fol-
lowing.
If the light continues to flash, when it is
safe to do so, stop the vehicle. Find a safe
place to park your vehicle. Turn the key off,
wait at least 10 seconds and restart the
engine. If the light remains on steady, see
“If the Light Is On Steady” following. If the
light is still flashing, follow the previous
steps, and see your dealer for service as
soon as possible.
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission
system malfunction by considering the fol-
lowing:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to
fully install the cap. Refer to “Filling the
Tank” in “Fuel” in the “Service and Appear-
ance Care” section. The diagnostic system
can determine if the fuel cap has been left
off or improperly installed. A loose or miss-
ing fuel cap will allow fuel to evaporate into
the atmosphere. A few driving trips with the
cap properly installed should turn the light
off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of
water?
If so, your electrical system may be wet.
The condition will usually be corrected
when the electrical system dries out. A few
driving trips should turn the light off.
Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with qual-
ity fuel. Refer to “Gasoline Octane” in
“Fuel” in the “Service and Appearance
Care” section. Poor fuel quality will cause
your engine not to run as efficiently as
designed. You may notice this as stalling
after start-up, stalling when you put the
vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation on
CAUTION
If you keep driving your vehicle with
this light on, after awhile, the emis-
sion controls might not work as well,
your vehicle’s fuel economy might
not be as good, and the engine might
not run as smoothly. This could lead
to costly repairs that might not be
covered by your warranty.
CAUTION
Modifications made to the engine,
transaxle, exhaust, intake, or fuel
system of your vehicle or the replace-
ment of the original tires with other
than those of the same Tire Perfor-
mance Criteria (TPC) can affect your
vehicle’s emission controls and may
cause this light to come on. Modifica-
tions to these systems could lead to
costly repairs not covered by your
warranty. This may also result in a
failure to pass a required Emission
Inspection/Maintenance test. Refer to
“Accessories and Modifications” in
“Service” in the “Service and
Appearance Care” section.