CEL, Exhaust leak?

[97ClipseDSM]

Could an Exhaust leak cause the Check Engine light to come on. Friday night i was driving and out of nowhere the CEL came on. I havnt pulled the codes yet..since i havnt had any time. I recently (2 1/2 months ago) had a $1400 head rebuilt job complete with timing belt change. Before my head rebuild, the CEL was on, replaced the 02 Sensor, the CEl went away, but came back on again. Reset the ECU and CEL went away. Had the head rebuilt, CEL went away, but it just came back on after 2800 miles. So my questions is this, i do notice i have an exhaust leak, could that possibly cause the CEL to come on???

 

[luv2rallye]

No - unless possibly it is before the 2nd O2 sensor (and so makes it read out of normal range as determined by the ECM).

 

[97ClipseDSM]

Monday morning i started the car and the light was gone. However, since i drove 170 Miles monday (from MD, and then to Reston), the CEL came back on. Im sure it will dissapear if i start the car in the morning. The car is running extremely fine (besides the slipping clutch which im getting ready to replace), my guess is it is probably the rear 02 sensor?

 

[luv2rallye]

Pull the code - it will be P0136/P0141 if so. Some auto stores (eg. Checker) will pull the code for free.

 

[97ClipseDSM]

do u know if autozone will pull it for free..i use to work at advance auto parts and they didnt offer something like this..u could only buy the CEL code scanner. And im not sure when my CEL will come back on..im positive that it will be gone by the morning and will take alot of driving for it to reappear which i want to avoid since my car is racking up so many damn miles.

 

[luv2rallye]

Call and ask. Many of the codes are kept stored even if the CEL goes out (especially if they keep reappearing).