Check engine light in '86 5kcstq when accelerating

[Bernard Littau]

Luke wrote:

First of all, i would like to thank all who replied to my problem of hot
starts, if sure it's the check valve now.  Another thing the car has always
done since i had it is whenever i step on the gas, the check engine light
comes on.  you kinda have to step hard, not flooring it, but at a certian
point in comes on.  If i let off the gas a little it goes out.  I know the
book says this could be ncorrect octane, but i always use 93.  Any of you
BTDT?  TIA,

Hi Luke,

I can't see how the check valve would cause your hot start problems and not
also cause cold start problems.  I'd look elsewhere.  Start by making sure
your distributor is correctly aligned.  I had a hot start problem that was a
weak Hall Sensor, but that's a rare one.  The distributor could be on the
edge of the correct timing window, and drift over the edge from time-to-time
when the car gets hot.  Might even be related to your check engine light.

If the check engine light is coming on while you drive, intermittently while
under acceleration, it can be for a number of reasons.  The best way to tell
which reason is to drive the car such that the light comes on, then pull
over, and without shutting off the car, pull the ECU codes.

See:
http://www.sjmautotechnik.com/ecuf.html
for how to pull the codes.  Elsewhere on Scott's site you will find a
description of the codes, and gobs of info on how to fix these problems.
Use Scott's site to diagnose this problem, and fix it, then send Scott some
small amount of money via PayPal.

Once you pull the codes, we can give you lots more advice...

Best,

Bernard Littau
Woodinville, WA
'88 5ktq