QuestionI have a '90 Buick Skylark that I'm just beginning to use & don't have a manual to refer to. When I turn on the engine, I see a status indicator saying "Service Engine Soon". What does that exactly mean? Tune-up? oil-change? do you know?
lastly, I know that I need to have the brakes (front end) checked because I hear squealing sounds during braking sometimes. But once when braking the whole car seemed to shake (pull-down to left side I think) along with the squeling. Would this involve just the brake system or might it involve the front suspensions or axle too?
AnswerHello David,
If that light just comes on when you start it, and then goes off in a couple of seconds, it is just a bulb self test, and should do that.
If the light comes on while you are driving it, there are a number of things that can do it, but it means something set a fault code, and you should have the codes read, and possibly need to repair something.
If that light comes on and blinks, a more serious problem exists, and should be checked immediately, so serious damage to the engine doesn't happen.
The most common code will refer to an oxygen sensor reading, which could be rich, or lean...not meaning that the sensor is bad, but that the engine is running rich, like if the plugs are dirty, or bad plug wires, etc.
Now for the brakes...hard to say. There are wear indicators, meant to squeel when the pads are worn. Yours could be beyond there. The only way to know is pull the wheels and look.
The shake could be the antilock brakes cycling, or it could be the pad material gone, or something else.
Again, looking is the first step.
Good luck,
Van
