|
| AUTHOR |
MESSAGE |
|
User no longer registered.
|
"Check Engine"
Didn't someone bring this up not too long ago? I was thinking it was a topic, or a reply but maybe it was on another site...I dunno...forgive me for forgettin'
Anyway, annoying as hell when there is no apparent reason for it, I was just checking out the "deal or dud" section of the St. Louis Fox news website where they had a report on a gadget that Black and Decker now has on the market, it reads the codes for the "Check Engine" light.
The diagnostic tool that pros use (they say) can cost up to $5000.00 and are very detailed, but this Black and Decker is about $80.00 and the book with the codes is pretty generic, but the codes are easy to google up.
I think maybe in a multi-vehicle family, this gadget sounds like a reasonable investment.
Yep, my car's "Check Engine" light started coming on the other day, I've heard that temperature and moisture changes can affect it. But yeah, very annoying when you're pretty sure you're car is in great shape, but that dam light....
|
| November 9, 2008, 08:05 |
|
User no longer registered.
|
Re: "Check Engine"
Most auto parts stores have scanners for this. Most made by Actron. They are inexpensive and work well.
The check engine light should show what's wrong with the system though. It flashes different for every problem. 55 usually for no problems. That'd be 5 flashes a pause then another 5 flashes.
|
| November 9, 2008, 08:18 |
|
funlovingpair
59 / couple
Frozen Tundra, Minnesota, US
|
Re: "Check Engine"
My sons check engine light was on for a while and found out it had to do with the gas cap. What does that have to do with the enigine?
Ma
|
| November 9, 2008, 09:09 |
|
User no longer registered.
|
Re: "Check Engine"
Some of the auto parts stores will check your car for you to see what's wrong so they can sell you the parts to fix it,most of the time it's a oxygen sensor that's bad,mines been on for a month and still haven't got it checked,my son has the car all the time.The loose cap can cause it to come on on some cars or trucks because the computer checks the system and See's something wrong,I don't know why,I guess it's a safety issue?
|
| November 9, 2008, 09:45 |
|
KINKYINTHEFALLS
56 / male
wild and wonderful, West Virginia, US
|
Re: "Check Engine"
The check engine light will come on after a certain amount of time for no reason. It comes on so that they can check out how everything is running. 
FLP the light comes on because there is a vacuume leak in the tank when the cap is not on correctly. I think this is an excellent feature as the gas will evaporate quickly thus causing more expenses. 
|
| November 9, 2008, 09:46 |
|
User no longer registered.
|
Re: "Check Engine"
lots of times, it's just a sensor that is bad, something that will still let the car run fine. but i still get it checked out, the last time mine was on, my fuel regulator was leaking.
yes, for those of you that are mechanically inclined, and have the proper tools, and work space, they do sell devices that allow you to scan your cars computer.
|
| November 9, 2008, 10:23 |
|
ashkats
64 / couple
crystal falls, Michigan, US
|
Re: "Check Engine"
ox senser, mine on and off too the ole check eng light even tells me when to ad oil.....
|
| November 9, 2008, 15:33 |
|
User no longer registered.
|
Re: "Check Engine"
Bad gas caps and oxygen sensors account for many check engine warnings. I bet any local AutoZone store would tell you for free.
|
| November 9, 2008, 16:11 |
|
User no longer registered.
|
Re: "Check Engine"
I am not good with the mechanical things in life. I have to depend on other's to tell me when to "check my engine" and why...
|
| November 9, 2008, 17:47 |
|
User no longer registered.
|
Re: "Check Engine"
Just got this car, it's beautiful, a 2004, one owner, excellent condition.
The hubs's check engine light has been coming on and going off for several years now, occasionally he's mentioned disconnecting the battery to kinda "reboot" it.
He's truck is much older and the light seems to reflect certain weather conditions, so I assume that would be the censor kinda thing.
The only thing I've notieced with my car is that one day I made a short trip, only a few blocks to the post office, and that was the first time the light came on, and the temp gauge did rise, still well within the normal range, but it did rise, since then the temp gauge stays in the cool range but the check engine light is still on. This car of mine, only had it for a little over a month, and it hasn't seen any long mileage from me, haven't driven it more than about 60 mile round trip a couple of times, other than that, just short trips.
|
| November 9, 2008, 20:22 |
|
KINKYINTHEFALLS
56 / male
wild and wonderful, West Virginia, US
|
Re: "Check Engine"
Chazzy it could be the factory set time. It's usually set to around the 130K mark. Just to get you to take it in. Our mechanic at work (we have a fleet) says it's just a way for the dealer to check up on the car and to charge us in the process.
He's checked mine twice and there were no problems.
|
| November 9, 2008, 20:41 |
|
Jis4jugs
43 / couple
Eastern, South Dakota, US
|
Re: "Check Engine"
a black sharpie is a good fix for this problem. 
him
|
| November 9, 2008, 22:11 |
|
User no longer registered.
|
Re: Re: "Check Engine"
QUOTE (KINKYINTHEFALLS @ November 9, 2008, 20:41)Chazzy it could be the factory set time. It's usually set to around the 130K mark. Just to get you to take it in. Our mechanic at work (we have a fleet) says it's just a way for the dealer to check up on the car and to charge us in the process.
He's checked mine twice and there were no problems.
Never heard of this one. Most certianly not on GM. I know several that have had over 200k and this has never happened.
|
| November 9, 2008, 22:14 |
|
User no longer registered.
|
Re: "Check Engine"
I have heard of it, once a car reaches a certain mileage point the light comes on. Mine is a Chevy with about 110 thousand on it.
In the St.Louis Fox News deal or dud segment I saw with the Black and Decker gadget, they had a mechanic try it out, he unplugged a sensor to make the light come on first, then hooked up the gadget to see the code display.
|
| November 10, 2008, 06:52 |
|
User no longer registered.
|
Re: Re: "Check Engine"
QUOTE (Jessejames @ November 9, 2008, 16:11)Bad gas caps and oxygen sensors account for many check engine warnings. I bet any local AutoZone store would tell you for free.
Exactly, and depending on the vehicle, sometimes this happens from not having the gas cap on tight enough.
|
| November 10, 2008, 08:18 |
|
User no longer registered.
|
Re: "Check Engine"
My car has the "messge center" deal where it would tell me the gas cap isn't on right, so maybe the sensor is what I should check?
No autozone near me, just got "autohusband"
He's got a few days off, I'll have him check out a few things.
|
| November 10, 2008, 08:26 |
|
User no longer registered.
|
Re: Re: "Check Engine"
QUOTE (Jis4jugs @ November 9, 2008, 22:11)a black sharpie is a good fix for this problem.
him
If you're talking about covering up the light, I'd suggest not trying that.... My brother bought a truck from a guy who took the bulb out from behind the CE light... the inspection place will catch it, trust me.... 
|
| November 10, 2008, 10:11 |
|
69oak69
64 / male
Heart of Illinois, Illinois, US
|
Re: "Check Engine"
The check engine light on my '95 Caddy comes on when I drive under high-tension power lines, so I dont pay alot of attention to it.
|
| November 10, 2008, 14:29 |
|
Jis4jugs
43 / couple
Eastern, South Dakota, US
|
Re: Re: Re: "Check Engine"
QUOTE (MoonHowler @ November 10, 2008, 10:11) QUOTE (Jis4jugs @ November 9, 2008, 22:11)a black sharpie is a good fix for this problem.
him
If you're talking about covering up the light, I'd suggest not trying that.... My brother bought a truck from a guy who took the bulb out from behind the CE light... the inspection place will catch it, trust me....
south dakota doesnt have inspections. if you can make it move its apparently ok to be on the road. lol
him
|
| November 10, 2008, 20:23 |
|
|
