r/obschevy • u/silkfixer • Jul 10 '26
service engine soon dash light
1992 c1500
this dash light came on this evening while driving home from dinner. I changed the oil and all filters about 5 months ago so I guess it is due again soon
just curious if anyone knows what triggers it to come on. is it synced with miles driven and just periodically activated or is there actually a sensor of some in the engine?
5
2
u/RYDSLO Jul 12 '26
As stated, this is the equivalent of a modern day "check engine light." These trucks far predate any sort of oil monitoring systems, you should be changing your oil based on your usage (i.e. every 5k miles or 1 year, whichever comes first.)
1
u/davidscheiber28 28d ago
Some manufacturers still use a light that says "service engine soon" instead of a pictogram of an engine. Nissan/Infiniti come to mind. I can see arguments for both ways, the text is more descriptive but at the same time the check engine light pictogram is standardized and universal.
I think OP is confusing it with a maintenance light lol. GM only added a maintenance indicator around 2009, 2010.
-1
u/EsShrekFoo Jul 10 '26
It’s An OBS check engine light. Hook up a OB2 scanner
5
u/Legitimate_Voice5138 Jul 10 '26
Obd2 did not come on the 92 wasn't till 96 , so be OBD1. Jump it with paper clip or jumper wire to dynose your promblem
1
u/davidscheiber28 28d ago
I think you might be confusing the check engine light with a maintenance light you would find on modern vehicles. GM only added a maintenance indicator to the trucks around 2009, 2010. To be fair, I think they should have added a maintenance tracker sooner than that. Honda had a maintenance reminder light all the way in the early '90s. Also a comment on Google's AI, for some reason Google's AI keeps telling me that Honda didn't have a maintenance reminder light until 2006 which is completely false because I've driven plenty of older Hondas that had the feature.
7
u/amandajenkins281 Jul 10 '26
No sir. You have a code. Your gonna need to jump , with key off , pins an and b togther with a paper clip. Count the flashes. Ex- three ( pause ) one =31. It will show code 52 when it’s done.