car service question

[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.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Ocala Mike

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.

it would be worth doing. fairly cheap/easy fix. seems like it's the typical culprit when you have overheat issues...might not have 'opened'. if it sticks shut....you're going to overheat. i know when my sons g/f didnqt have a/c, and car was overheating it was the t/stat.

[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.

[golfer]

Originally Posted by 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.

In most older cars, you can drive them for years with the check engine light on. It's when the light starts flashing that you have a problem that CAN'T be ignored. If it's an oxygen sensor, or a catalytic converter issue, you can reasonably ignore it. But it makes sense to find out what the problem is first.
I had a Mazda some years ago with the check engine light on for years. Finally, I decided to handle the issue with a well- placed piece of duct tape on the dashboard. Voila, problem solved!

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by golfer

In most older cars, you can drive them for years with the check engine light on. It's when the light starts flashing that you have a problem that CAN'T be ignored. If it's an oxygen sensor, or a catalytic converter issue, you can reasonably ignore it. But it makes sense to find out what the problem is first.
I had a Mazda some years ago with the check engine light on for years. Finally, I decided to handle the issue with a well- placed piece of duct tape on the dashboard. Voila, problem solved!

we put a piece of electrical tape over the check engine light in the truck.

mike, typically if you unhook the battery cable, it will reset the check light for a few days, but then it comes back on.
and i have to wonder if the 'mechanics' working on my car know that. oh, hey, the light's off, we fixed it. but in fact, they just reset it when disconnecting the battery. and i know they're disconnecting it, because clock has to be reset each time we get it back.