# Driven and the engine ligth comes on **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** outback, engines, subaru, lights\ **Created:** [March 10, 2011, 7:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driven-and-the-engine-ligth-comes-on/62463 "2011-03-10T19:21:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![friend2talk2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@friend2talk2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/friend2talk2)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 7:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driven-and-the-engine-ligth-comes-on/62463/1 "2011-03-10T19:21:41Z")
what are reason for the check engine light to come on and off and when a different person drives it is when it comes on? i guess i am looking for other opinions when i drive it i drive it respectfully but the owner bit of a speed lover. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 7:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driven-and-the-engine-ligth-comes-on/62463/2 "2011-03-10T19:31:29Z")
``` That CEL (check engine light) is just a kid in class waving her hand trying to get you attention because she has the answer. You need to have the codes read. Some places will read them for FREE. Try Autozone or Advanced Auto Parts. Get the exact code (like P0123) not just their translation into English and post it back here. ``` ---
**Author:** ![kizwiki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7cd45c/32.png) [@kizwiki](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kizwiki)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 2:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driven-and-the-engine-ligth-comes-on/62463/3 "2011-03-11T02:05:38Z")
You are asking if driving style changes might make the CEL come on? In short, you drove the car at reasonable speeds, and the CEL came on? And you think that is because the usual driver drives fast most of the time. I think you might be right. Only because the CEL turned off after you used the car for some time. The various sensors are meant to accomodate in part the actual driving conditions. If you change these conditions drastically, then yes, there must be some adjustment period during which the CEL will come on until the conditions are met. It might be best if you don’t use this car if you are going to insist on driving it responsibly. That’s only partly a joke. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driven-and-the-engine-ligth-comes-on/62463/4 "2011-03-11T03:36:54Z")
Read the codes, get your answer. ---
**Author:** ![friend2talk2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@friend2talk2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/friend2talk2)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 2:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driven-and-the-engine-ligth-comes-on/62463/5 "2011-03-11T14:20:34Z")
thanks for the replys ---
**Author:** ![friend2talk2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@friend2talk2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/friend2talk2)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 2:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driven-and-the-engine-ligth-comes-on/62463/6 "2011-03-11T14:21:20Z")
what i am looking for is is it posable for the computer to think somthing is wrong if car is driven totaly different between 2 people ---
**Author:** ![friend2talk2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@friend2talk2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/friend2talk2)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 2:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driven-and-the-engine-ligth-comes-on/62463/7 "2011-03-11T14:22:22Z")
what i am looking for is is it possible for the computer to think something is wrong if car is driven totally different between 2 people ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 2:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driven-and-the-engine-ligth-comes-on/62463/8 "2011-03-11T14:51:01Z")
It makes no sense whatsoever. My guess is that you’re reading too much into a coincidence. However, if you get the codes read and post them then people might have some more to say about it. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 3:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driven-and-the-engine-ligth-comes-on/62463/9 "2011-03-11T15:02:50Z")
As was said, you need to get the stored trouble code(s) read. However, it is possible that whatever problem exists does only show up when the car is driven “harder”. There can be underlying problems that may not be apparent when a car is gently driven, but that does not mean that the driver is at fault. The person who is at fault is the one who does not maintain his car properly and/or decides to ignore the Check Engine Light. Get the trouble code(s) read and then fix whatever is causing the CEL to light up. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 4:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driven-and-the-engine-ligth-comes-on/62463/10 "2011-03-11T16:01:29Z")
``` [i] s it posable for the computer to think somthing is wrong if car is driven totaly different between 2 people [/i] One driver may drive the car in a way that a marginal issue may turn up while another driver may never cause that message to be activated. One difference may be the way they replace the fuel cap or fill the tank. Topping off a tank may cause the error message. Topping off the fuel tank is a bad idea and can cause damage. Another might be driving too hard and it may be sensing that you are revving the engine too fast. That CEL (check engine light) is just a kid in class waving her hand trying to get you attention because she has the answer. You need to have the codes read. Some places will read them for FREE. Try Autozone or Advanced Auto Parts. Get the exact code (like P0123) not just their translation into English and post it back here. ``` ---
**Author:** ![friend2talk2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@friend2talk2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/friend2talk2)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 4:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driven-and-the-engine-ligth-comes-on/62463/11 "2011-03-11T16:26:14Z")
not my car so i am not worried about ficing i just do not want to be blamed for driving respectfully and responsible so trying see why i get the light on but they have it turn off when i drive way law says not speed and rough house the car ---
**Author:** ![Bladecutter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@Bladecutter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Bladecutter)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 4:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driven-and-the-engine-ligth-comes-on/62463/12 "2011-03-11T16:32:21Z")
The ONLY way you will know is to get the code pulled. This can be done for FREE at an auto parts store. There is obviously a problem with the car, and when YOU drive it, the parameters are met that trigger the light. Its NOT YOUR FAULT that the light comes on when you drive it. But you have to find out what the light means before you can say that your driving causes the light to come on. And since its a Subaru Outback, of unknown vintage, miles, and installed engine, there are A LOT of potential causes for the Check Engine Light to come on when the car is driven gingerly. Here’s a better idea if you don’t want to deal with the issue: Stop driving this car that you don’t own. BC. ---
**Author:** ![friend2talk2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@friend2talk2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/friend2talk2)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 6:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driven-and-the-engine-ligth-comes-on/62463/13 "2011-03-11T18:18:48Z")
lol but ficing the fun part as long as it is not fixed.lol serousy i know but not asking what detailed issue with car was or is just looking mostly see if i am crazy to think that driven differently to old car that is use to be pushed to the max when i drive it like a normally liek i should would it think somthing was wrong with the car becuase i am not pushing it so hard.? ---
**Author:** ![researcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/edb3f5/32.png) [@researcher](https://community.cartalk.com/u/researcher)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 6:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driven-and-the-engine-ligth-comes-on/62463/14 "2011-03-11T18:59:03Z")
If the regular driver does a lot of Wide Open Throttle driving, it is possible that (s)he never operates the vehicle in the area of the fuel map that your driving touches. I once rode with a driver that cycled between WOT and braking all the time. It was stomp and stomp all the time (very uncomfortable). There are so many areas that might generate a code that would activate the Check Engine Light. It could be the dreaded P0420 catalytic converter inefficiency code. It could also be a problem with a marginal o2 sensor, a purge flow inaccuracy, a bad spot in the Throttle Position Sensor, etc. The only way to narrow down the possibilities is to scan the Power Control Module (computer) to get the Diagnostic Trouble Codes. The codes will still reside in the PCM even if the CEL has been off less than a certain number of engine start-drive cycles. Hope this helps. ---
**Author:** ![friend2talk2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@friend2talk2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/friend2talk2)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 11:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driven-and-the-engine-ligth-comes-on/62463/15 "2011-03-11T23:18:45Z")
thanks for all the info great now i do not feel like i am dum over it