Security and Service Engine Light in 98 Jimmy.

[98JimmyKat]

Hey Molson!
Got a question hopefully you can help me with...actually it is about 2 things about the warning lights. First, everytime I put gas in my Jimmy, the service engine soon light will come on, take it to garage, says it is a vapor lock seal...the gas cap isn't sealed...so I take it off, put it back on and it is fine, till I put more gas in it. Is there a way to bypass this warning? Something I can unhook?
Also, every now and then my security light will come on and stay on, I shut the truck off and restart it goes off...what is causing it to come on and how can it be corrected...don't want it to not start since it is a warning...and a safety thingy that scores points with my insurance company...it disables the fuel in it when tampered with or something like that.

Now that the warranty is over, I am still having slight steering issues, like possibly the pitman arm and ball joints....ok, I know I said 2 questions but I got to thinking about this...sorry...anyhoot, can a DIY'er fix the pitman and joints on their own? What else should be fixed while under there? I notice there is noise sounding like the shocks may be going, I suppose that could help with the sway/bouncing. Coil springs and what else? Other than that, my Jimmy is going along great...can't wait till it warms up to put details I got on it...will send pix after that...ok, have a great day.

 

[Molson02536]

Hey Molson!
Got a question hopefully you can help me with...actually it is about 2 things about the warning lights. First, everytime I put gas in my Jimmy, the service engine soon light will come on, take it to garage, says it is a vapor lock seal...the gas cap isn't sealed...so I take it off, put it back on and it is fine, till I put more gas in it. Is there a way to bypass this warning? Something I can unhook?
Also, every now and then my security light will come on and stay on, I shut the truck off and restart it goes off...what is causing it to come on and how can it be corrected...don't want it to not start since it is a warning...and a safety thingy that scores points with my insurance company...it disables the fuel in it when tampered with or something like that.

Now that the warranty is over, I am still having slight steering issues, like possibly the pitman arm and ball joints....ok, I know I said 2 questions but I got to thinking about this...sorry...anyhoot, can a DIY'er fix the pitman and joints on their own? What else should be fixed while under there? I notice there is noise sounding like the shocks may be going, I suppose that could help with the sway/bouncing. Coil springs and what else? Other than that, my Jimmy is going along great...can't wait till it warms up to put details I got on it...will send pix after that...ok, have a great day.

Glad your enjoying your Jimmy and hope to see pics one day. As for the gas cap, just replace it. But make sure it's a OEM from the Dealer, sorry the aftermarkets are made for a wide range of cars and you'll find your self in the same check engine light again issues.

The Security light issues, yes it's a PITA and will sooner cause you to be stranded out somewhere other then your house. Here is a link that i use on most of passlock issues on GM. It's a by pass system for that problem and it's a DIY, so you should not have any problem with it. As for the insurance company, a steering wheel lock will be accepted by them as a deterant and will keep your rates the same. http://www.gmpasslock.com/

To repalce the Pitman, you have to drop the steering box to remove it. If your still having steering problem, Check to make sure the drag link is leveled to the Jimmy's frame and not or to one side as you mentioned the idler arm was replaced. The Idler arm can be adjusted up or down to level the drag link and it's not leveled, your going to have play issues. As for the Ball joint's, yes you can do it but easier if your have air tools and you may want to invest in having it replaced by a garage. I even have my friends at the garage do my ball joints, since it's a pain to do. But can be done, for now lube the ball joints with Marine Grease. They work better and last longer and will take most of the play out of your ball joints and steering linkage. I recommend that you do this every 1,500 miles which only take 15 min to do and as for me, my preferance is to use a grease needle to lube the steering and front end linkage and don't for get the U joints. Keep me posted

 

[Molson02536]

Eh Kat, forgot about the noise to your front end like your shocks. Common for the end link to the sway bars to wear out and the shock bushings. You can pick the urethane bushings at Auto Zone, Parts Source, or Napa. Start with the end link to the sway bar and just by the whole end link kit, make sure the kit comes with the urethane bushings. The shocks are most of the time still good, other then the bushings. So save your money and just replace the bushings on them too and all are easy DIY fixes, and don't forget to replace the rear shock bushings too.