[june w.]

I really hate that "Check Engine" light thay put on vehicles. It offers just enough information to make you worry but not enough to know why you need to worry.

i'll give you a hint... blown head gasket. which always happens when you are about 3 hours from home... it did to me several years ago anyway, now i heed the "god of the check engine light" and his warnings of impending doom. but i will add that i really hate that those drive through oil change places never know how to reset the change oil light... i always have to do it myself (i pay them to do that, i shouldn't have to dig around in the fuses).

[solitary]

I hate idiot lights period. My car is now 16 years old, it has 227,000 miles on it. The summer before last, my gf and I were out of state. We stopped at a light and I stalled it. But it wouldn't turn over. So I pushed it into a parking lot (the wrong way), got a jump and we were on our merry way. Without thinking, I turned off the engine and sure enough, it restarted on command. I thought that little mishap may have been a sign that there was a bad spot in the starter. So everything is going peachy. We decide that instead of spending a few more c-notes on a hotel and leave in the morning, we'll just drive home Saturday night. I stop and get gas. Won't turn over again. Get a jump, everything seems fine for about five minutes. As we cross into the next state, the headlights start to dim and the engine starts acting funny. I pull over, leave it running, kill the lights and hit the hazards. Everytime the hazards blink, the engine drops to about 300 RPM, then back up when the lights go off. I swear, alot.
Long story short, the alternator had died. My car has a charge idiot light, but it does not work when the engine is running, even if the alternator belt is disconnected, hence a guaranteed negative draw.
This problem had been slowly getting worse for weeks and there was only one small indication of the problem, the temp guage dropped a little on extra electrical demand, like A/C on, which I noticed, but didn't make the connection.
I installed an ammeter for $15 or so. Fortunately, I have a functional oil pressure guage (some read dead center on any pressure, even if it's dangerously low), temp guage and now ammeter. Most modern cars have none of the above and expect you to rely on that check engine light, which most people ignore. I'd rather pay an extra $300 for the car and have at least those three guages than idiot lights, two of the three all the wiring and sensors that need to be installed anyway.

By the time that most idiot lights are on, it's too late, if they go on at all.

[radiolancaster]

I really hate that "Check Engine" light thay put on vehicles. It offers just enough information to make you worry but not enough to know why you need to worry.

We have company vans here at my work. The owner's answer to the check engine light is to put black electrical tape over it.

[littledutchboy]

I really hate that "Check Engine" light thay put on vehicles. It offers just enough information to make you worry but not enough to know why you need to worry.

The truth is even if a screen popped up and told you exactly what the problem was most people would still be clueless, if they understood what the problem was there is almost nothing you can do about it due to how complicated cars have become, not to mention that it is so hard to find and get out potential problems……and of course you need the “special” tools……………………..

[Scalewoodman]

Oh! The dreaded 'Check Engine' light! Source of lots of service rip-offs and widely misunderstood.

Having dabbled in the used car business over the years, I can tell you that it is a giant pain in the butt. My wife had a Saab 9-3 (63K miles) which was chronically at Mearig's (now Kelly has the franchise) for free correction to the Check Engine light... it really was irritating and would always come on the next day. These repairs were and should have been under the Warranty up to 100K miles.

The light is mandated by Federal Law to indicate a problem with the engine controls, most of it regarding emissions. The problem can be as simple as the fuel cap not tightened, condensation in the gas tank (dry gas needed) or as complicated as the Oxygen Sensors giving false readings in the emission control system or worse the dreaded engine control module itself ($$ computer). The light is supposed to tell you that it is OK to keep driving but that the car needs to be checked. The car won't pass emissions inspection with the light 'on' as you can bet the emissions are out of spec.

A couple of points:

-- There is an emissions system Warranty with the car, usually up to 100K miles. Repairs are often no/charge if you take the car back to the dealer. The mystique of this 'Check Engine' light is a major source of rip offs and excessive billing... most of it would be n/c.

-- It is OK to drive the car but if you experience any unusual roughness or problems have it checked right away-- poor gas utilization will cook the catalytic converter which is unnecessary and expensive. Use your head.

-- Always tighten the filler cap securely and replace right away if you lose it.

[JohnQPublic]

The truth is even if a screen popped up and told you exactly what the problem was most people would still be clueless, if they understood what the problem was there is almost nothing you can do about it due to how complicated cars have become, not to mention that it is so hard to find and get out potential problems……and of course you need the "special" tools……………………..

Here's a good example of this: a friend of my wife's car had the check engine light come on. I happend to have a scan tool that can diagnose the problem. We hook it up and I tell him that the code is indicating a misfire on cylinder 3.

The car had over 80,000 miles on it and should have had a tune up awhile ago. I asked him when the last time the spark plugs were changed and he said, and i quote, "When should they be replaced?".

Turns out the plugs had never been changed and they were just fouled beyond belief. The point of the story? Follow the maintanence guidelines in your owners manual!

Oh, and a trivia question: when i change the spark plugs in my car I'll need 16 plugs. What car or type of car do I drive?

P.S. Solitary (mr gauge man) doesn't get to answer because he probably knows and that wouldn't be any fun!

[solitary]

We have company vans here at my work. The owner's answer to the check engine light is to put black electrical tape over it.

I've been tempted to pull the gague cluster out and just cut the wires or remove the bulb in our Ford. I hate that thing.

[JohnQPublic]

I've been tempted to pull the gague cluster out and just cut the wires or remove the bulb in our Ford. I hate that thing.

Even if you did, it would still fail inspection.

[solitary]

Even if you did, it would still fail inspection.

Not on an ABS light. Even Ford couldn't find the problem. But I'm sure now that I've said that, the Feds are hot on my trail. Maybe they'll come pick up that darn thing. It's a disgrace to my driveway.

[littledutchboy]

Here's a good example of this: a friend of my wife's car had the check engine light come on. I happend to have a scan tool that can diagnose the problem. We hook it up and I tell him that the code is indicating a misfire on cylinder 3.

The car had over 80,000 miles on it and should have had a tune up awhile ago. I asked him when the last time the spark plugs were changed and he said, and i quote, "When should they be replaced?".

Turns out the plugs had never been changed and they were just fouled beyond belief. The point of the story? Follow the maintanence guidelines in your owners manual!

Oh, and a trivia question: when i change the spark plugs in my car I'll need 16 plugs. What car or type of car do I drive?

P.S. Solitary (mr gauge man) doesn't get to answer because he probably knows and that wouldn't be any fun!

Please tell!!!

[mrmikemtr26]

Please tell!!!

Well, only 3 makers ever produced the engine, but only 2 made it to production. Either a Cadillac or Bugatti. My guess is '30-'40 Cadillac unless you happened to get your hands on a spec-engine.

[Tenacious B]

Oh, and a trivia question: when i change the spark plugs in my car I'll need 16 plugs. What car or type of car do I drive?

Assuming it is one plug per cylinder, the only production(?) car is the Bugatti Veyron with a w16 engine. Some motorcycle engines employ two plugs per cylinder but I don't know if an auto manufacturer has attempted it. But, it is big but not the marvel you believe it to be. Owned by VW, they used the same method in which they created the w8 found in some Passats, and I believe the lower end Phaeton. They mated two 8's, two v8's mated make a w, thus the w16. I think Daimler Chrysler auto-showed a concept vehicle with a 16 as well. I also think there were some very early cars, probably Buick's or Cadillac's that may have had a 16...but then again, they also had 'fins'.

If you have an 16 you have to have 'bumper nuts' fixed to the rear bumper. Note: Link QSFW

This post has been edited by Buck Jackson: 07 December 2005 - 09:17 PM