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So my check engine light has been on for quite some time and I haven't been bothered to take it in and pay ~$100 to get it diagnosed.
I did get it scanned for free at Auto Zone, their reader said it was 1 of 2 things - either the gas cap or something related to O2 sensors. Well, I recently changed my gas cap and in 2013 I actually had all 4 O2 sensors and my catalytic converter replaced (for $950 ).
Because of that, I really don't think it's anything serious... and I don't feel super inclined to fork over a chunk of money to find out that it might be nothing.
Any of you mechanics out there have any suggestions or should I just go into a mechanic and pay to have it officially diagnosed and get it fixed? I'm going to have to get emission tests done soon, and they won't pass your car if the check engine light is on.
Try this first. Disconnect the negative battery terminal and leave it off for a minute or so, then reconnect it. Sometimes this will reboot the computer and the check engine light might go off , especially if it was your cap and you replaced it..
Try this first. Disconnect the negative battery terminal and leave it off for a minute or so, then reconnect it. Sometimes this will reboot the computer and the check engine light might go off , especially if it was your cap and you replaced it..
Don
I'll definitely give that a shot. My battery died a couple of months ago after the stereo somehow stayed on after the car was turned off... would that also have reset the computer? Because if so, the light was on before & after.
Probably not, but it is worth a try to disconnect it and see what happens. Since you fixed the gas cap and the parts store said it might be the sensors, that might be the next logical step.
It's been months since I took it to Auto Zone for them to read it, so I don't have the code on hand anymore... I'll see if I can swing by again and get the code. Like I mentioned earlier, it was a code that stated it could be related to the O2 sensors or the gas cap.
Try this first. Disconnect the negative battery terminal and leave it off for a minute or so, then reconnect it. Sometimes this will reboot the computer and the check engine light might go off , especially if it was your cap and you replaced it..
Don
Leave it off for about 30 minutes just to be sure.
OP, don't listen to the Autozone clowns. As you can see from this list, there are different codes for each issue.
Like I mentioned earlier, it was a code that stated it could be related to the O2 sensors or the gas cap.
Don't go by what the code reader says, or what the guys at Autozone tell you. Just get the Code number, write it down, go home and research.
The code could either be a Cause or a Result. For example, you are saying that the code was related to the O2 sensors. You would assume that means to replace the O2 sensors, but the code could also be the result of a situation like a small exhaust leak upstream of the O2 sensor causing them to run lean.
There are so many code numbers that it's hard to assume anything right now.
BTW, you can buy a $5 wifi adapter and a $4 app on your smart phone and make your own code reader.
Why were the catalytic converters and o2 sensors replaced so early? If the car is operating normally, these items should last you much longer than they have. Did you correct the initial problem that caused the converters and o2 sensors to fail?
Why were the catalytic converters and o2 sensors replaced so early? If the car is operating normally, these items should last you much longer than they have. Did you correct the initial problem that caused the converters and o2 sensors to fail?
It's been about 2 years... and I'm not going to claim to be a mechanic, but I believe the guy said that something was basically coming apart. I took it in to get looked at because the car was making a loud rattling noise, like a rock was getting thrown around somewhere.
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