Invalid topic.
| Posted By |
Message |
Wendy
Wheeee!
Member since 5/05 13736 total posts
Name:
|
Check Engine Light
Do you immediately try to bring your car into be looked at or throw caution to the wind for who knows how long?
|
Posted 8/6/07 2:34 PM  |
| |
|
Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
MrsMerlot
Unconditional Love
Member since 4/06 6005 total posts
Name:
Chrissy
|
Re: Check Engine Light
Depends on how old the car is....with the newer cars, it could be an oxygen sensor....with the older cars, it could definitely be something important to look into.
Either way, I'm the type of person that has to get my car in ASAP otherwise the light will haunt me.
|
| Posted 8/6/07 2:35 PM |
| |
|
Nicole728
My Happy Girl
Member since 7/06 8198 total posts
Name:
Me
|
Re: Check Engine Light
I would def bring my car in to get checked
|
| Posted 8/6/07 2:37 PM |
| |
|
Wendy
Wheeee!
Member since 5/05 13736 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Check Engine Light
Posted by ChrissynRicky
Either way, I'm the type of person that has to get my car in ASAP otherwise the light will haunt me.
This is me! I got in the car earlier to go to a DR's appt and of course not when I turned the car on (when I could have just taken DH's car) but when I got a few blocks away, the light came on!!!
And I just had the car inspected and some other stuff done exactly a month ago 
But the funny thing is I can remember driving around in my aunt's old 1986 Oldsmobile with every imaginable warning light on and never worrying one bit!!
Message edited 8/6/2007 2:42:18 PM.
|
| Posted 8/6/07 2:38 PM |
| |
|
SweetTooth
I'm a tired mommy!
Member since 12/05 20105 total posts
Name:
Lauren
|
Re: Check Engine Light
It could also mean you need an oil change, thats what my car does.
How long have you had the car?
|
| Posted 8/6/07 2:41 PM |
| |
|
seank80
Don't Taze My Dog Bro!!
Member since 5/07 2240 total posts
Name:
Sean
|
Re: Check Engine Light
If your car is a 1996 or newer go to your local auto zone store. They have a scanner that they can bring out to your car to tell you what the code means. They will do this for free and it takes about 2 minutes time. It definately is worth a shot before bringing it into a shop and having to leave the car there.
ETA: When did you get gas in the car last?
Message edited 8/6/2007 2:41:59 PM.
|
| Posted 8/6/07 2:41 PM |
| |
|
Wendy
Wheeee!
Member since 5/05 13736 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Check Engine Light
Posted by SweetTooth
It could also mean you need an oil change, thats what my car does.
How long have you had the car?
Had an oil change a month agoi about 1200 miles.
I've had the car for 6+ years and it just hit 99K miles today!
|
| Posted 8/6/07 2:43 PM |
| |
|
Beth
The Key to your new home....
Member since 2/06 24849 total posts
Name:
Beth
|
Re: Check Engine Light
I would need to take it in right away
I drive to CT everyday for work- and I would not want to get stuck
|
| Posted 8/6/07 2:44 PM |
| |
|
Wendy
Wheeee!
Member since 5/05 13736 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Check Engine Light
Posted by seank80
If your car is a 1996 or newer go to your local auto zone store. They have a scanner that they can bring out to your car to tell you what the code means. They will do this for free and it takes about 2 minutes time. It definately is worth a shot before bringing it into a shop and having to leave the car there.
ETA: When did you get gas in the car last?
Hmm ... I think one just opened up near my job!!
I think I got gas on Thursday but I've got a half tank left ...
|
| Posted 8/6/07 2:44 PM |
| |
|
seank80
Don't Taze My Dog Bro!!
Member since 5/07 2240 total posts
Name:
Sean
|
Re: Check Engine Light
Posted by Wendy
Posted by seank80
If your car is a 1996 or newer go to your local auto zone store. They have a scanner that they can bring out to your car to tell you what the code means. They will do this for free and it takes about 2 minutes time. It definately is worth a shot before bringing it into a shop and having to leave the car there.
ETA: When did you get gas in the car last?
Hmm ... I think one just opened up near my job!!
I think I got gas on Thursday but I've got a half tank left ...
On some cars if the gas cap isn't sealed completely it will throw a check engine light. If I were you I would go and loosen it all the way and then tighten it back. I know a few people that have had this happen. It could also be a batch of bad gas that will give you the light for the entire tank. Check the gas cap first. It's free and easy.
|
| Posted 8/6/07 2:47 PM |
| |
|
Wendy
Wheeee!
Member since 5/05 13736 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Check Engine Light
Posted by seank80
Posted by Wendy
Posted by seank80
If your car is a 1996 or newer go to your local auto zone store. They have a scanner that they can bring out to your car to tell you what the code means. They will do this for free and it takes about 2 minutes time. It definately is worth a shot before bringing it into a shop and having to leave the car there.
ETA: When did you get gas in the car last?
Hmm ... I think one just opened up near my job!!
I think I got gas on Thursday but I've got a half tank left ...
On some cars if the gas cap isn't sealed completely it will throw a check engine light. If I were you I would go and loosen it all the way and then tighten it back. I know a few people that have had this happen. It could also be a batch of bad gas that will give you the light for the entire tank. Check the gas cap first. It's free and easy.
Interesting about the bad gas because I think another time I had the light, that's what the dealer said (which annoyed me  ) and I do almost always get my gas at the same place on the way to work 
Thanks for the suggestions!
|
| Posted 8/6/07 2:49 PM |
| |
|
seank80
Don't Taze My Dog Bro!!
Member since 5/07 2240 total posts
Name:
Sean
|
Re: Check Engine Light
Posted by Wendy
Interesting about the bad gas because I think another time I had the light, that's what the dealer said (which annoyed me ) and I do almost always get my gas at the same place on the way to work
Thanks for the suggestions!
Not a problem.
|
| Posted 8/6/07 2:53 PM |
| |
|
CunningOne
***
Member since 5/05 26975 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Check Engine Light
DH is a dealer and I've learned to wait Sometimes ALL it means is that the onboard computer needs to be reset, it doens't mean anything is wrong.
|
| Posted 8/6/07 2:55 PM |
| |
|
sunflowerjesss
Mommy to 3!
Member since 10/05 20369 total posts
Name:
Jesss, duh.
|
Re: Check Engine Light
Mine came on once. The dealer told me I should take it in to be checked regardless but if it wasn't flashing and it was just on steady it wasn't an emergency and could wait.
|
| Posted 8/6/07 2:59 PM |
| |
|
JP826
=)
Member since 9/06 10903 total posts
Name:
Me!! All about ME!
|
Re: Check Engine Light
Depends. My "check engine" light goes on & off all the time. We brought it in twice to check it out & the engine was fine. My mechanic said that there was something wrong with one of the sensors in the car.
If it helps I have a Nissan Maxima, and alot of people I know that drive similar cars in the Nissan family have the same issue.
|
| Posted 8/6/07 3:18 PM |
| |
|
dpli
Daylight savings :)
Member since 5/05 13973 total posts
Name:
D
|
Re: Check Engine Light
I used to bring it in right away. Now, I check all the fluids, and if everything looks OK, I bring it in when I have a chance.
My old car had a problem twice with sensors going out on it, which made the engine light come on. The first time, the mechanic went over the whole exhaust system before trying the sensor to see if that was the problem. When I moved and went to a new mechanic, he told me to check the fluids and if I didn't notice any changes with the way the car was running to ignore it b/c it is usually something with the computer.
|
| Posted 8/6/07 3:21 PM |
| |
|
MrsMerlot
Unconditional Love
Member since 4/06 6005 total posts
Name:
Chrissy
|
Re: Check Engine Light
Posted by Wendy
Posted by seank80
Posted by Wendy
Posted by seank80
If your car is a 1996 or newer go to your local auto zone store. They have a scanner that they can bring out to your car to tell you what the code means. They will do this for free and it takes about 2 minutes time. It definately is worth a shot before bringing it into a shop and having to leave the car there.
ETA: When did you get gas in the car last?
Hmm ... I think one just opened up near my job!!
I think I got gas on Thursday but I've got a half tank left ...
On some cars if the gas cap isn't sealed completely it will throw a check engine light. If I were you I would go and loosen it all the way and then tighten it back. I know a few people that have had this happen. It could also be a batch of bad gas that will give you the light for the entire tank. Check the gas cap first. It's free and easy.
Interesting about the bad gas because I think another time I had the light, that's what the dealer said (which annoyed me ) and I do almost always get my gas at the same place on the way to work
Thanks for the suggestions!
I had bad gas a few months ago, and it's very hard to diagnois...Just for pre-cautionary measures...buy a bottle of dry gas (it's rubbing alcohol) and throw it into the gas tank, and fill up your tank if you could.....drive the car for a mile, and the light will go off!
|
| Posted 8/6/07 3:22 PM |
| |
|
