car service question

[Duvalier]

Originally Posted by Danzig

problem yesterday is that no one was available, it being sat. evening....

steve, not sure, but i'll found out how long ago that was done.

What comes up when they put a scan tool on it?

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by Duvalier

What comes up when they put a scan tool on it?

Couple months ago my truck was diagnosed and the gas cap was one of two codes that came up. Mechanic said to stop filling up with it running and put a new cap on at no cost. As someone said here earlier, it sounds like it may be an oxygen sensor. That or the fuel injectors.

Pray it's not foul fuel.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

Couple months ago my truck was diagnosed and the gas cap was one of two codes that came up. Mechanic said to stop filling up with it running and put a new cap on at no cost. As someone said here earlier, it sounds like it may be an oxygen sensor. That or the fuel injectors.

Pray it's not foul fuel.

Those O2 sensors are insanely sensitive.

I would drive the car until its 5 miles away from empty, put some fuel injector cleaner in there and fill up a different place from the 'normal' gas station you go to.

Also, I would potentially stay away from getting work done at any dealer, their markup is close to 4 times what a mechanic with his own shop would charge. If its under warranty then sure, but otherwise, you'll get better work from a mechanic and also a more cost effective option.

$1150 for some sensors seems REALLY high unless it was a sensor that was buried and took a ton of labor to get to.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Scav

Those O2 sensors are insanely sensitive.

I would drive the car until its 5 miles away from empty, put some fuel injector cleaner in there and fill up a different place from the 'normal' gas station you go to.

Also, I would potentially stay away from getting work done at any dealer, their markup is close to 4 times what a mechanic with his own shop would charge. If its under warranty then sure, but otherwise, you'll get better work from a mechanic and also a more cost effective option.

$1150 for some sensors seems REALLY high unless it was a sensor that was buried and took a ton of labor to get to.

we had a truck we drove for years with the engine light on. usually don't go to dealers, but felt it was our best option. yeah, we learned our lesson. this experience reminded us why we didn't go thru dealer service before. very, very disappointed and aggravated.

they have changed thing in the fuel system, just not sure why they keep changing out things, and getting nowhere. only difference is i am out money.

OK, as long as this thread is here, help me with this one:

Yesterday morning, my 2004 Ford Ranger truck overheated just a couple of miles from home and, by the time I limped into the driveway, ALL of the coolant was lost. Today, my son-in-law found the problem to be a cracked plastic part, called a heater control valve. He put a new one on, and the truck is now driveable. Only problem is I now have NO HEATER, and the CHECK ENGINE LIGHT is now on. Any ideas before I check it for any codes?

For what it's worth, here are mine:

1. The thermostat was ruined when the truck redlined, and it will have to be replaced.

2. Andy (my son-in-law) may have installed the new part improperly.

3. Something happened to the vacuum line connection to that heater valve (again, possibly when the new part was installed).

[Danzig]

you added coolant to replace what's lost? replaced t'stat?

Yes on the coolant; no on the thermostat. Are you in the camp of those who believe the thermostat needs replacing? My son-in-law didn't think so, but I kind of do.

I'll see what the codes come back tomorrow.

[Mike A]

I'm not endorsing not to have you car checked. I am driving a 98 jeep, the check engine, air bag, oil, and about all other lights have been coming on for about 5 years, no problems so far. Initially had my mechanic, not a jeep dealer, check for problems, didn't find any show stoppers. Usually only 1 or 2 come on at a time, not every day.

When I changed the battery 2 years ago, no change in the lights coming on.

The best one was when the cruise control light came on, the jeep has no cruise control.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Duvalier

What comes up when they put a scan tool on it?

that's the thing, each time it goes back, then its a new thing they find. but i dont believe them at this point at all, since i have a hard time thinking new things keep going bad within days of them 'fixing' something. also, the first time they had it, they said they found something in thefuel system, and replaced it. they recommended a fuel system cleaning, so we did that. now i just feel ripped off.

[golfer]

Originally Posted by Danzig

that's the thing, each time it goes back, then its a new thing they find. but i dont believe them at this point at all, since i have a hard time thinking new things keep going bad within days of them 'fixing' something. also, the first time they had it, they said they found something in thefuel system, and replaced it. they recommended a fuel system cleaning, so we did that. now i just feel ripped off.

Most auto parts stores will do a computer scan on your check engine light for free.

[Duvalier]

Originally Posted by Danzig

that's the thing, each time it goes back, then its a new thing they find. but i dont believe them at this point at all, since i have a hard time thinking new things keep going bad within days of them 'fixing' something. also, the first time they had it, they said they found something in thefuel system, and replaced it. they recommended a fuel system cleaning, so we did that. now i just feel ripped off.

I would do what golfer said and get someone else to scan your car to see what codes are actually coming up.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Duvalier

I would do what golfer said and get someone else to scan your car to see what codes are actually coming up.

will do that first thing.