Comments on: The dreaded check engine light – what to do? http://myfinancialjourney.com/archive/the-dreaded-check-engine-light-what-to-do Wed, 16 May 2012 14:32:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: My Financial Journey http://myfinancialjourney.com/archive/the-dreaded-check-engine-light-what-to-do/comment-page-1#comment-275 My Financial Journey Fri, 16 Feb 2007 12:34:09 +0000 http://www.myfinancialjourney.survivingkids.com/archive/the-dreaded-check-engine-light-what-to-do#comment-275 Yeah I ended up taking it to AutoZone who will check it for free. Turns out it was an emissions problem so nothing to worry about. Yeah I ended up taking it to AutoZone who will check it for free. Turns out it was an emissions problem so nothing to worry about.

]]> By: JohnR http://myfinancialjourney.com/archive/the-dreaded-check-engine-light-what-to-do/comment-page-1#comment-274 JohnR Fri, 16 Feb 2007 03:26:31 +0000 http://www.myfinancialjourney.survivingkids.com/archive/the-dreaded-check-engine-light-what-to-do#comment-274 I've had this happen several times (4 actually, on 3 differnt cars). Not wanting to pay the dealer $100 to analyze the problem, I did some research. It turns out that this can be caused by a bagillion things. Good news is that many times there is a simple solution. Check your gas cap. If it looses it seal at any one point while driving, it will likely keep that obnoxious light on indefinately. Actually, many issues that make the light come on will keep the light on forever. Make sure it is quite tight. Now, disconnect 1 of the 2 leads on the battery for about 10 minutes. This will power down everything. Then, connect it and start your car again. If you gas cap had been loose, it will not re-assess that that is not a problem and not turn the light on again. Give it a few minutes. If you are lucky, it was the gas cap or something else that is no longer a problem. If the light comes back on, go ahead and pay $5-$10 to replace it and repeat the process. It would be worth saving the assessment fee. This has fixed the issue for 3/4 times it has happened to me. Disclaimer : sorry, you will have to re-do the presets on your radio and clock. :( I’ve had this happen several times (4 actually, on 3 differnt cars). Not wanting to pay the dealer $100 to analyze the problem, I did some research. It turns out that this can be caused by a bagillion things. Good news is that many times there is a simple solution. Check your gas cap. If it looses it seal at any one point while driving, it will likely keep that obnoxious light on indefinately. Actually, many issues that make the light come on will keep the light on forever. Make sure it is quite tight. Now, disconnect 1 of the 2 leads on the battery for about 10 minutes. This will power down everything. Then, connect it and start your car again. If you gas cap had been loose, it will not re-assess that that is not a problem and not turn the light on again. Give it a few minutes. If you are lucky, it was the gas cap or something else that is no longer a problem. If the light comes back on, go ahead and pay $5-$10 to replace it and repeat the process. It would be worth saving the assessment fee. This has fixed the issue for 3/4 times it has happened to me.

Disclaimer : sorry, you will have to re-do the presets on your radio and clock. :(

]]> By: tim http://myfinancialjourney.com/archive/the-dreaded-check-engine-light-what-to-do/comment-page-1#comment-273 tim Fri, 09 Feb 2007 14:55:00 +0000 http://www.myfinancialjourney.survivingkids.com/archive/the-dreaded-check-engine-light-what-to-do#comment-273 I hate check engine lights, too, especially when they come on and then your engine immediately seizes like my stupid Land Rover did 50 miles after the warranty expired. I hate check engine lights, too, especially when they come on and then your engine immediately seizes like my stupid Land Rover did 50 miles after the warranty expired.

]]> By: Mission Debt Freedom http://myfinancialjourney.com/archive/the-dreaded-check-engine-light-what-to-do/comment-page-1#comment-272 Mission Debt Freedom Fri, 09 Feb 2007 03:39:24 +0000 http://www.myfinancialjourney.survivingkids.com/archive/the-dreaded-check-engine-light-what-to-do#comment-272 I hate Check Engine lights...in my personal experience they have never been useful. I drive a 16 year old van with an overactive Check Engine light. After taking it to the shop the first half dozen times and being told nothing was wrong I just ignore it. I hate Check Engine lights…in my personal experience they have never been useful. I drive a 16 year old van with an overactive Check Engine light. After taking it to the shop the first half dozen times and being told nothing was wrong I just ignore it.

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