maintanence required light flashing while moving
Champion
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 4,737
Likes: 374
From: Northwest Louisiana
"MAINT REQ" is not "CHECK ENGINE" (or "POWER LOSS" as my cluster has it), but is better served by my cluster's "SERVICE EGR".
It's a different light.
My manual doesn't mention one flashing, but it's for a 1988, so I can't weigh in on the OP's flashing. I'd be scanning it and resetting it if I were him, though.
RwP
It's a different light.
My manual doesn't mention one flashing, but it's for a 1988, so I can't weigh in on the OP's flashing. I'd be scanning it and resetting it if I were him, though.
RwP
Amateur
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: KS
We have a sticky that talks about resetting it. Now, to my understanding this light comes on at certain set mileages - at least in the older Dakotas. My '90 FSM says:
"The Emissions Maintenance Reminder System (EMR) is incorporated into the engine controller. The engine controller records the vehicles mileage and stores it into memory every 8 miles. At that time, the engine controller checks for the 60,000, 82,500, and 120,000 mileage trip points. When the current mileage matches one of the above mentioned trip points, the EMR light is activated."
It's purely a reminder to replace the PCV valve, clean the EGR, etc. at these mileages - again, at least in my '90. It doesn't mention anything about flashing. My '90 2WD turned 82,500 shortly before I purchased it and the light is still on to this day and has never flashed. The EGR valve was stuck and would kill the engine at idle so I replaced it and the PCV valve while I was at it.
You say it has a '94 driveline? Does that mean it has the Magnum injectors, computer, etc?
"The Emissions Maintenance Reminder System (EMR) is incorporated into the engine controller. The engine controller records the vehicles mileage and stores it into memory every 8 miles. At that time, the engine controller checks for the 60,000, 82,500, and 120,000 mileage trip points. When the current mileage matches one of the above mentioned trip points, the EMR light is activated."
It's purely a reminder to replace the PCV valve, clean the EGR, etc. at these mileages - again, at least in my '90. It doesn't mention anything about flashing. My '90 2WD turned 82,500 shortly before I purchased it and the light is still on to this day and has never flashed. The EGR valve was stuck and would kill the engine at idle so I replaced it and the PCV valve while I was at it.
You say it has a '94 driveline? Does that mean it has the Magnum injectors, computer, etc?
Yes its 94 everything except the instrument cluster/tcase/axles.
It only flashes when the vehicle moves. If I stop it, the light will stop flashing(sometimes it will stop in the on position and sometimes it will stop in the off position). But it doesn't go with the speed of the vehicle and doesn't do it all the time. If this helps
It only flashes when the vehicle moves. If I stop it, the light will stop flashing(sometimes it will stop in the on position and sometimes it will stop in the off position). But it doesn't go with the speed of the vehicle and doesn't do it all the time. If this helps
Amateur
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: KS
I'm just throwing a wild guess out there - I honestly have no idea, and the best thing to do would be to find a '94 factory service manual - is it possible that the circuitry in the gauge clusters is different from '91?
My biggest concern would be that the computer is actually sending a signal to the check engine light, and if the gauge cluster's different, then it's lighting up the wrong light. I really don't know why the maintenance light would flash but again I am more familiar with the '87-91 trucks and I know those won't flash. Maybe Chrysler made the light flash in the later years.
I'm pulling that out of my rear, obviously, but you might see if there are any codes stored in the computer. Otherwise the '94 FSM might have an explanation.
My biggest concern would be that the computer is actually sending a signal to the check engine light, and if the gauge cluster's different, then it's lighting up the wrong light. I really don't know why the maintenance light would flash but again I am more familiar with the '87-91 trucks and I know those won't flash. Maybe Chrysler made the light flash in the later years.
I'm pulling that out of my rear, obviously, but you might see if there are any codes stored in the computer. Otherwise the '94 FSM might have an explanation.