Why would my service light be on my 2002 pontiac sunfire?

40

Asked by dflat Feb 24, 2010 at 09:43 AM about the 2002 Pontiac Sunfire SE

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

My service light comes on and stays on as soon as I put my car into drive. It doesn't come on until I actually put the car into drive. But then sometimes it doesn't come on at all. This just started yesterday. I am curious what all reasons would cause this light to come on? I have a check engine light, but that isn't coming on. So is this something not related to the engine?

15 Answers

365

Change or Oil and reset the light the owners manual will guide you through how to reset the light but if you dont change your oil it will just come back on.. GM used a oil monitoring system that basically tells you when to do oil changes not determined by length of travel or time but by oils current condition inside of your engine.

5 people found this helpful.
25

you can always take your car to carx or something to get a scanner hooked up to it. it might just be some codes that you can erase. need to get it checked out though, you won't pass emissions with that light on.

2 people found this helpful.
40

I just had my oil changed last week so I don't know what else there would be wrong.

4 people found this helpful.
210

The service light doesn't relay codes. Only the check engine light will register OBD-2 trouble codes. The check engine light will come on if there are any emission malfunctions. The service light may indicate a problem with ABS, transmission system, or tach system.

4 people found this helpful.
210

Oh, almost forgot. May be a problem with the headlights. Chances are its your daytime running lights since it comes on once you put it into drive. I would check that first.

17 people found this helpful.
480

The service light with a wrench symbol is a non emissions light. GM uses this light for oil change (based on oil condition) and headlight issues. The reset process once these are fixed is comical but easy to do. You need to (while car is off) pump gas 1 time & break 1 time; Then turn your key to the on (but not cranked) positions; pump the gas 3 times, press and hold the break 15 seconds; turn the car to off and then crank it and the reset is complete.

7 people found this helpful.
10

Ok I had oil changed did the reset and put car in gear it made the clicking sound lights flashed and service light came on. So now what do I need to check

1 people found this helpful.
20

Get a different car! I have same car & same problems. Still tring to pass emissions. Have done everything, light comes on periodacally anyway. Am pulling my hair out & going broke ta boot!

2 people found this helpful.
10

I have a 2000 Sunfire and found that there was a bad wire between the large connector under the battery and the headlights. The DRL relay would click a few times as soon as I put the car in gear and then the Service light would come on. I replaced that wire and have not had a problem since.

1 people found this helpful.
90

Problem with 2000 Sunfire. Problem just started yesterday. Turn headlamps on and all good during night drive. Morning comes, turn headlights off and headlights flash numerous times along with clicking noise and Service light with wrench symbol comes on. Same symptom if started and as soon as put in to gear, flashing and clicking and Service light. Searching forums points to headlamps. Sure enough, the RH high beam does not work. Just replaced it. Same issue. Low beams and driving lights all work, just no RH high beam. What do you think?

6 people found this helpful.
20

Put fog lights on my 2002 sunfire once and when I drilled into the dashboard by the fuse box and drilled into three wires. One was to the fuel pump. Two was to the trac system. Three was to the left head light. And I put all the wires back together but some how my head light wire didn't connect and when I would start the car it was fine but when I put it in gear it would click like three times and my head lights would go off and the service light would come on. I fixed the wire problem solved. So my guess would be a bad wire or a fuse or headlight

2 people found this helpful.
90

For everybody's info, I used the Chilton book. It showed a pink wire that should be providing a ground to the headlamps high beam. Had to unwrap the large wiring bundle under battery area near steering shaft. Sure enough pink wire had came unsoldered somehow. Re-soldered and all good with headlights and daytime lights. Problem fixed.

2 people found this helpful.
90

Oh the symptom was with head lamps off, as soon as I put in drive, lights would flash (clicking) and service light comes on. Rh lamp no work. With headlamps on at night, prior to putting in drive, this did not happen.

1 people found this helpful.

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