car service question

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.

[Mike A]

None of the lights flash or blink yet, the airbag light concerns me the most
I really don't want to get air bagged at freeway speed, I'll be sure to watch
for any flashing, thanks for the heads up

[bigrun]

I have 2001 Buick Regal. bout 138K miles..had it two years...low tire and service engine light stay on all the time...check coolant light came on couple months ago and goes off when i park and start up again.....car runs fine.
Hey dan, you ever listen to Car guys on NPR radio?,,guys are funny and have good advice..on sat from 1-2...right after Wait wait don't tell me show, also very funny..
Here's their facebook link and their phone number is there..check it out...

https://www.facebook.com/TheCarGuysRadioShow

I don't know about dan, but I listen to "Car Talk" every Saturday morning (it's on from 10-11 down here) on the local NPR station. Guys are hilarious; I love the puzzlers. My situation might not be a bad one to call in, but they seem to prefer talking to people whose cars are making funky sounds which they like to make them imitate. I've heard that's the surest way to get past their call screeners.

[Danzig]

have heard them plenty of times.

also recommend watching top gear, the brit version.

[bigrun]

Originally Posted by Ocala Mike

I don't know about dan, but I listen to "Car Talk" every Saturday morning (it's on from 10-11 down here) on the local NPR station. Guys are hilarious; I love the puzzlers. My situation might not be a bad one to call in, but they seem to prefer talking to people whose cars are making funky sounds which they like to make them imitate. I've heard that's the surest way to get past their call screeners.

I don't listen every week but when i do it seems the callers are all women..Maybe call them and give you name as Michele
Do you listen to Wait wait don't tell me?...also hiliarious and Peter Sagal is great.

[Danzig]

they're coming to get the car in the morning. tony's taking care of it, was on the phone with both the service manager and with chevrolet.

Good on that, dan. Yes, big, I listen to "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me," which follows "Car Talk" at 11:00. Usually pretty funny stuff.

[OldDog]

Originally Posted by Danzig

also recommend watching top gear, the brit version.

Great stuff!

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Ocala Mike

Good on that, dan. Yes, big, I listen to "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me," which follows "Car Talk" at 11:00. Usually pretty funny stuff.

the service manager told tony that he felt the stuff they did on trips one and two were unnecessary. that he put a different mechanic on it on the most recent visit, and that he feels he got the canister correct, but...

so, there will be discussion about making things right on that bill when all is said and done. we haven't paid another penny since the first visit.

[Danzig]

right...so, they fetched the car. tony had told them about our battery terminal concerns, that corrosion probably was causing an issue.

well, guess what. they took it to shop, cleaned up terminals to get proper connection and hooked up the computer...

catalytic converter. explains, rough idle, stall, all of it. if they've got correct info this time...its covered under warranty.
so, a fixed car, and a refund for unnecessary repair ought to make everything ok.

[bigrun]

Originally Posted by Danzig

right...so, they fetched the car. tony had told them about our battery terminal concerns, that corrosion probably was causing an issue.

well, guess what. they took it to shop, cleaned up terminals to get proper connection and hooked up the computer...

catalytic converter. explains, rough idle, stall, all of it. if they've got correct info this time...its covered under warranty.
so, a fixed car, and a refund for unnecessary repair ought to make everything ok.

Let us know how that works out

[Arletta]

Originally Posted by bigrun

Let us know how that works out

Lol.. Uh huh

[Danzig]

based on conversations with both the service guy and the service manager, yeah, there will be a refund.

[Boomtowner]

I have a '96 Explorer. In '98, I gave someone a jump and the light came on soon afterward.

The car ran fine, so I did the black electrical tape fix and it's been that way since. Have had other work done on it(brakes, hoses, belts etc.) and my mechanic never mentioned it.

I had some stalling and rough ride after an oil change, and I opened the hood and the oil guy checked the air filter and didn't seat the housing back properly so I reset it and no problems. Now I tell them not to check the air filter.

[herkhorse]

^^^^I read the first sentence, took it the wrong way, and thought Mortimer was back.






















thud!