check my check engine light?

[realracersuseapc]

well my car is not passing smog and everything mechanical seems to be running fine. i cant figure out what the problem might be. the paper shows that my hyrdocarbon levels or wutever is really high and i have some unburnt fuel comin out the exhaust too. i think it could be a broken sensor somewhere or sumthing. the thing is, that my engine check light isnt on. i was thinking maybe that could be broken too. is there any way to check my check engine light?

[Thurazor]

When you first start up the car the check engine light should be on for about 3 seconds. Another thing you could do is unplug the throttle position sensor. I've never heard of bad or unplugged 02 sensors causing the check engine light to come on, but from the sounds of your problem you're definately running rich and the 02 sensors are the first place to start checking.

[realracersuseapc]

yea i was told that the problem could be my mafs or my o2 sensor, but i thought that if that was the problem, my check engine light would come on. if a bad o2 sensor doesnt trigger the check engine light, is there a way to see if thats the problem without replacing it?

[Thurazor]

I'm not actually sure if a bad 02 will trigger the check engine light. The MAS can trigger the check engine light, but it's only when it's unplugged or in very tough shape. Plus, if your MAS was in tough shape you should have also noticed a lot of hesitation with accelaration and stalling. If you get a multimeter, there are tests you can do on the 02 sensors. You can get one at Radio Shack for $20 with the battery, and you'll need a service manual to find the diagnostic numbers, or just find someone else on the board who can give them to you.