Service - Malfunction Lamp

The "SERVICE" - telltale lamp is in the instrument cluster and has the following function:

It informs the driver that a problem has occurred that requires the vehicle be taken in for service as soon as reasonably possible. This lamp is used for non-emission related failures which without being serviced could lead to component damage to other sub-systems. As a bulb check, the lamp will come On for two-three seconds and then go out. If the lamp remains On, the self-diagnostics system has detected a fault. If the problem corrects itself or goes away, the lamp will turn off three seconds after the PCM diagnostic test passes. A diagnostic trouble code will be stored in malfunction history.