Have you recently changed brands of fuel?If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel. SeeGasoline Octane on page 5-5. Poor fuel quality causesthe engine not to run as efficiently as designed. Youmight notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling whenyou put the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation onacceleration, or stumbling on acceleration — theseconditions might go away once the engine is warmed up.This will be detected by the system and cause the light toturn on.If you experience one or more of these conditions,change the fuel brand you use. It will require at leastone full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.If none of the above steps have made the light turn off,your dealer/retailer can check the vehicle. Yourdealer/retailer has the proper test equipment anddiagnostic tools to fix any mechanical or electricalproblems that might have developed.Emissions Inspection and MaintenanceProgramsSome state/provincial and local governments have ormight begin programs to inspect the emission controlequipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass thisinspection could prevent you from getting a vehicleregistration.Here are some things you need to know to help yourvehicle pass an inspection:Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the checkengine light is on or not working properly.Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the OBD(on-board diagnostic) system determines that criticalemission control systems have not been completelydiagnosed by the system. The vehicle would beconsidered not ready for inspection. This can happen ifyou have recently replaced the battery or if thebattery has run down. The diagnostic system isdesigned to evaluate critical emission control systemsduring normal driving. This can take several daysof routine driving. If you have done this and your vehiclestill does not pass the inspection for lack of OBDsystem readiness, your dealer/retailer can prepare thevehicle for inspection.3-45
