Unable to drive home due to "Service Engine Soon"

[silyman1]

So my camera crew and I arrived at my dealership today and started the purchase process on what was to be my new Silver Ice beauty. After some shuffling around, the general manager came over to me, introduced himself, and let me know that I would not be driving home that day in an emission-less vehicle. "Why for?" says I. "Well," He tells me, "the SES -Service Engine Soon light was on and we couldn't get it to turn off. We have top men working on it right now." He was quite apologetic and friendly, and I graciously continued my purchase of the car that, even before arrival to my door, was already back in the shop.

http://flic.kr/p/92Cx3k

I was, however, able to snag a few photos of the car in the shop hooked up to their Multiple Diagnostic Interface unit. I'm wondering if anyone else had any other snags in picking up their precious? Or was my condition a rarity? I hope it is. They seemed to think it was a software glitch of some kind. I hope so, as that should be easier to fix than a broken engine. But we'll see. Yesterday was my Christmas Eve, and I guess tonight gets to be too.

[Mybatcar]

OMG.....your car is unfit to drive from the dealer with an engine light.....on the other thread the car was damaged by a construction crew. Not good !!
Best of luck. I hope it is only a minor glitch that gets fixed ASAP !

[WopOnTour]

Dont sweat it too much. Could be almost anything or even something so simple it will take only a few minutes to rectify. In fact the MIL could even just be an "artifiact" from previous QC work done that wasnt followed through on. (The lamp will stay ON for minimum of 3 consecutive passing trip cycles w/o failure)
Feel free to let us know exactly what DTCs they pull and we'll help you stay informed whats going on...
WOT

PS> Maybe ask them to verify your odometer reading at this point (or go inspect it yourself?)

[Chevyconnects]

More than likely the gas cap was not secure. I cant believe they could not get it to reset....but it is new and the diagnostic literature is not out yet. Hope you get it tomorrow.

[bookdabook]

I was, however, able to snag a few photos of the car in the shop hooked up to their Multiple Diagnostic Interface unit.

Damn, I feel weird. I just get excited looking at a broken consumer Volt. I can't wait to see pictures of the dented door on the other one. (slaps himself) Snap out of it man, it's just a car! (slaps himself).

[?'smyvolt]

More than likely the gas cap was not secure. I cant believe they could not get it to reset....but it is new and the diagnostic literature is not out yet. Hope you get it tomorrow.

So much for the weeks of QA in Area 51......

[WopOnTour]

More than likely the gas cap was not secure. I cant believe they could not get it to reset....but it is new and the diagnostic literature is not out yet. Hope you get it tomorrow.

The dealers have ALL the "diagnostic literature" they need I assure you.
Sure it COULD be something as simple as a loose fuel cap, but that's just "throwing darts"...
Still I'd be surprised if it was anything major (ie parts replacement req) though

So much for the weeks of QA in Area 51......

Lot's of thing could have happend since then (we dont have much of the full story yet)
I wouldn't panic
The sky's not falling just yet



WOT

[Xzlon]

The Service Engine Light is generally SMOG related. O2 sensor most likely.

[WopOnTour]

The Service Engine Light is generally SMOG related. O2 sensor most likely.

More darts
There's at least 1000 items that can illuminate the MIL
(plus an HO2S is very unlikely to fail at such low mileage, not impossible but highly unlikely)
WOT

[silyman1]

Well I got a call tonight telling me that the light did go off after another drive. He mentioned a possible reason for the light was that the engine was made to run for a long period of time, but I'm not sure how that makes sense. I think it was just my sales guy trying to translate what the service tech told him. I'll find out tomorrow when I attempt Volt Pickup: part 2.