My friend, his dad and myself just changed the driver's side sparkplugs in my car, but my damn SES light WILL NOT turn off. I unscrewed the AIR pipe, and like a dumbass I forgot to put its gasket back in and also plug in something else that I unplugged near the front cylinder. The car would not start up at first and then it turned over and sounded like crap and gray smoke billowed out of the car. We turned it off, plugged the sensor back in and installed the gasket and it fires up just fine, but the SES light is still on.

Do you think if I drive the car it will reset itself and turn off? I plan on getting it scanned at an auto parts store tomorrow to see what the problem is.

We're not even attempting to do the passemger side right now. I might just bite the bullet and have someone do that side.

This f*ckin' sucks, any help would definitely be appreciated.

 

The light might stay on for the next day or so. The best thing to do is find someone with a scan tool that can read the codes and clear them. That way you'll be able to see if the code is still being thrown or not too. Autozone might be able to do that for free. If so that's good.

Where in Florida are you? South Florida right?

 

i am confused why you had such trouble with the plugs, do you have some funky headers that make things difficult?

Reset the PCM (remove PCM fuses or disconnect battery for abit) and see if it comes back on.

 

I lost the gasket to the passenger side AIR when I did my plug install. It's been about a month now, and I haven't had a light come on and it's running like a top. I keep meaning to get a new gasket, but keep forgetting about it.

Jason

 

You got the SES because the sensor that you failed to plug in is the coolant temperature sensor that the computer uses to determine running parameters.
Turn the key on but do not start the motor, under the hood in the 2 fuse boxes on the left front fender pull the IGN BATT & IGN PCM fuses, wait 10 minutes, turn the key off, re-install the fuses. The computer is now reset. If the SES comes back on, then get it checked out.

 

The car appears to be fine now. I let it sit overnight in my friend's garage, I started it up in the morning with the SES light still on, drove it around, stopped someplace, then after I turned the car on and drove back to his house the light went off and stayed off (including the 90 min. drive home). I'm taking it to my mech. to get the pass. side done and see if it's still throwing any codes, thanks for the help.