Mystery of Check Engine Light: light works, but doesn't turn on with code

[jblc]

I have a mystery with my Check Engine Light: the light works (illuminates on vehicle startup along with the other lights, so it's not burned out), but doesn't turn on with a code.

I've searched these forums with no related case...

This is perhaps related: my Check Gauge light also doesn't come on when fuel is low, but it ALSO successfully illuminates on vehicle startup. I didn't worry about this though, until my truck didn't pass SMOG check because there was a pending code that I didn't know about.

I can fix the problem associated with the code (p1443), but also need to figure out why CEL and low fuel lights aren't turning on, when the lights themselves are functional. Strange!

(1997; 3.0L; 2WD; 5-speed Auto Trans; 240k miles)

 

[adsm08]

The light didn't come on with the pending code because the code was still pending.

The computer has to see a problem once to set a pending code, twice in consecutive drive cycles to turn the light on, and not see the problem for 40 consecutive drive cycles to turn the light off.

Your issue would appear to be intermittent.