WHAT Do You When Your "Check Engine" Light Comes On ?

[Joshua_me]

try this, joshy. when you get in your car, turn the key on, but don't start the engine. gently and completely depress the gas pedal and release it. turn the key off again. count to 100 and start your car.

Well, I don't want to depress the gas pedal, it's already been having some issues.



But, OK... I'll try that....

 

[Triple G]

Gay men don't like checking under the hood, we prefer to deal with the trunk.

I lke both ends does that mean I'm bi?

 

[kevbo]

I take it to Manny, Moe, and Jack

 

[Edward Twinkletoes]

I think it's scary that we live in a time when we don't really know what's wrong with something we depend on every day. When something goes wrong, we just kind of sit there and punch buttons until we get some guy on the phone who will invariably tell us to bring the car to him.

 

[looseliam]

OK lemme clear-up some things:

Yes, the Check Engine/Service Engine Soon/Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL)/Emissions workshop light is there relating to emissions. Why? Any change in the operation of the engine may result in more pollution.

Let's say, for instance, your long-term fuel trim is clocked up. Car still runs fine. THe MIL comes on. You have a vacuum leak fixed or a MAF. Oh, and your fuel economy returns to where it should.

Let's say it's a bad engine coolant temp sensor. Well, it could cause your fans to run more then they should wearing them out. It could cause them not to come on, overheating the vehicle. It could simply be reporting the the car is running cooler than it is and you're using more gas than you need.

So let's throw in both scenarios above without a check engine light. You're throwing a lot of fuel into the exhaust. The catalytic overheats, melts together restricting the exhaust resulting in lack of power, no start, etc.

Fact of the matter is have it looked at sooner rather than later.

As for going to the idiot farms (Pep Boys, etc) a code won't do you any good.

OK, so I say, "Oh, there's P0300, P0301, P0304. Random misfires, misfires cyl 1, misfire cyl 4." Would you know what to replace? Could be a spark plug. Could be a plug wire. Maybe a coil. Could be a leak in the intake gasket near that cylinder.

Yes one pays a bit to have a skilled technician diagnose the vehicle. It may see, daft to pay someone $100 to check something that takes 10 mins. But he knows what to check and if it's bad. We do the same for ourselves when going to a doctor.

Sorry, didn't mean to rant here, but I get kinda hot and bothered when it comes to auto repair and its' misconceptions.

 

[Joshua_me]

Oh, Honey.....

I dunno, I just want the damned light to go off....

 

[seven_sins]

When mine came on, it was because the oxygen sensor needed to be replaced.

 

[balls2thawall]

im a auto tech, if the light comes on and the vehicle is running fine check tire pressures, gas cap, and fluid levels. run the vehicle a few miles go back home disconnect the negative cable of your battery (on some vehicles the battery is now in the trunk or in the wheel well) wait 20 mins....reconnect, and drive off, the light should be off. if the light comes back on you prob have a bad 02 sensor, your EGR valve is stuck (sometimes hitting the EGR housing lightly frees it up) if its a Nissan you're def fucked they have lots of problems with their crankshaft postiion sensors, if it were the coolant sensor your temp gauge or light would tell you something is wrong same with the alternator or battery if the temp gauge is pointing to HOT check to see if you still have a belt going to the water pump or that the relay on the fan(s) are not bad usually turning your A/C on will automatically turn the fan(s) on except on RWD vehicles with a fan clutch which the fan is driven by the engine itself. The check engine light is Emmisions related and is the reason our vehicles today are all fucked up, thank you EPA ....I didnt vote cause I'd fix it myself

 

[yayme]

Check your fluids; they can leak. If that doesn't solve it, take your car to an auto shop that offers free check engine diagnostics and hope that it won't be too expensive to fix.

If you want to be charged an arm and a leg, go to your dealer. They'll make sure your pockets are clean. lol

 

[HOT4MEN]

Mine's been on since the day I bought it......

 

[biguy732]

Since I don't know how old your car is and whether or not it has OBD I or OBD II, you best bet is to really just bring it to the dealership and have them read it. I no longer trust the local garages for issues like this - the cars today are too complicated with WAY too many sensors in them. Also - here in NJ when you go for an inspection now, they no longer do an emissions test with the exhaust - they simply plug your car into the DMV computer and your car tells their computer it it passed. And you will immediately fail if your check engine light is on.

 

[gsdx]

For future reference, it is 'tout de suite':

In answer to your question, a lot of people on People's Court seem to drive their cars after the 'check engine' light comes on and the engine blows up. . . and then they sue somebody for selling it to them.

 

[dpnice]

For future reference, it is 'tout de suite':

................................

You are mean.

When I read it I thought he was using the two words as terms of endearment. Kind of nice to be called 'toots' and to think that someone thinks your are 'sweet'.

 

[gsdx]

^ It wasn't to be mean. It was simply a matter of education for someone to whom French is a foreign language.

(Oh, by the way, you're pretty sweet, toots. )

I don't believe I've ever called a man 'toots' before.

 

[dpnice]

im a auto tech, if the light comes on and the vehicle is running fine check tire pressures, gas cap, and fluid levels. run the vehicle a few miles go back home disconnect the negative cable of your battery (on some vehicles the battery is now in the trunk or in the wheel well) wait 20 mins....reconnect, and drive off, the light should be off. if the light comes back on you prob have a bad 02 sensor, your EGR valve is stuck (sometimes hitting the EGR housing lightly frees it up) if its a Nissan you're def fucked they have lots of problems with their crankshaft postiion sensors, if it were the coolant sensor your temp gauge or light would tell you something is wrong same with the alternator or battery if the temp gauge is pointing to HOT check to see if you still have a belt going to the water pump or that the relay on the fan(s) are not bad usually turning your A/C on will automatically turn the fan(s) on except on RWD vehicles with a fan clutch which the fan is driven by the engine itself. The check engine light is Emmisions related and is the reason our vehicles today are all fucked up, thank you EPA ....I didnt vote cause I'd fix it myself

You lost me at 'check tire pressures'.

I have been known to get out of the car and then talk nicely to her pleading her to start, giving her all the reasons why I need her to start now.

It never seems to work but it is more calming and less dangerous than kicking the bloody thing.

 

[johnstme]

Mine has been on for over ten years. I think I'd be upset if the thing went off.

 

[ixthrock]

Well, I don't want to depress the gas pedal, it's already been having some issues.

heh, funny guy, and sweet, a depressed guy says

OK... I'll try that....

meh; i was told it was a chevy thing. mine's been on since the month after i got it - a couple of years, now. Now it's probably telling me that my door is ajar, since the old one was ripped off and the new one now has a tinted, hand-cranked window and my driver's speaker and door lock is no longer wired in.

 

[Joshua_me]

For future reference, it is 'tout de suite':

Wasn't that a song from "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang " ?

 

[gayboi909]

last time my check engine light came on i decided to drive to San Fransisco & back to San Bernadino & then to Las Vegas & back.......the light just got brighter......so i put duct tape over it.

car still runs great
see here is a pic of it.

 

[ozguy]

I'd go

then I'd panic.