Sometimes the "check engine" light really means "check engine"

[progressoid]

So my check engine light came on a few weeks ago but I ignored it because I didn't have the time or the money to deal with it so I went on with life as normal and it was fine until yesterday when my wife and I made a trip to the bookstore but when we got back in the car it was dead, like dead dead and we were 25 miles from home with no jumper cables so we called a niece but she didn't answer so then we the mother-in-law and yes, she could bring the jumper cables but we had to call our daughter to get them out of the garage because my M-I-L is short and they are hanging up high so our daughter who is recovering from having four wisdom teeth pulled the day before went into the garage to get the cables but managed to lock herself out of the house in 18 degree weather so M-I-L and daughter went back to M-I-L's house to get a key to our house to let daughter back in and while this is going on my wife and I broke our diet and had coffee and bad (nutritionally) food at an IHOP but eventually M-I-L showed up with the cables and I jumped started the car without a problem then drove to an auto supply store to get a new battery and now the "check engine" light is off...so that's good.

I suppose I should get that airbag warning light looked at too.




BTW - Jan 14th is national run on sentence day.

[hlthe2b]

1. I'd like to know why, with our incredible computer advancements in car engines...

It can't tell us what the problem is, rather than just a generic check engine light--that requires trying to get an appointment somewhere at some place that has the second computer needed to interpret the code.

I take the damned lights seriously, but after repeated time-consuming and somewhat costly episodes that reflected nothing more than a false positive from changing the gas tank cap to a locking one that did not seal as well, I can understand why people tend to ignore them.

I think it is ridiculous that with the advanced computer systems in cars, we are left wondering what, exactly is going on (and whether we should stop immediately and call a tow truck) or can cautiously continue on until we find a capable service station

[progressoid]

4. Funny thing. The battery light never came on.

I agree about "time-consuming and somewhat costly episodes that reflected nothing more than a false positive". I just assumed since my car has 170K miles it was something big. Turns out, just a battery.

Ironically, just after I bought it, it started driving sluggishly and the check engine light did not come on. Eventually I took it in and had to replace an O2 sensor, catalytic converter and something else expensive. Luckily it was covered by warranty.

[ret5hd]

5. The battery wasn't the problem.

With any "check engine" problem, the computer will reset after disconnecting the battery (or a completely dead battery) and the light will turn off till the computer senses the problem again.

IOW, that check engine light will probably be back on shortly.

[progressoid]

7. Oh great.

[Mister Ed]

27. The other moral you've probably drawn from the story is "always carry jumper cables".

They're not terribly expensive. Just tuck 'em in with your spare tire and forget about 'em 'til you need 'em.

[Chan790]

8. You can buy the computer...they're fairly cheap.

I used to sell them, they're a couple hundred bucks. I've considered buying one just to rent out to my mechanically-inclined friends. It's one of those things that a lot of people have desperate use for once or twice, but almost nobody has frequent enough use for to motivate them to buy one.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-canobd2-1-scan-tool-kit-with-pc-software/p-00920899000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1
(That's the one I would have bought.)

[Major Nikon]

24. You can get them a lot cheaper

Ebay has tons of them. Some are standalone, and some work with a laptop or other device. I have one that plugs into a laptop. Some of the newer ones I've seen have bluetooth built into the plug and will work with smartphones or computers.

[Orrex]

21. Lots of Auto Zone-type places will interpret the signal for you

They plug their computer into your system and give you the answer in about ten seconds. It's free and doesn't require an appointment. Of course, the repair might run you $500, but at least you'll won't have to pay to find out what the light is telling you.

Still, you're exactly correct; it's preposterous that the system can't give the vehidriver more specific diagnostic information, because it's obviously conveying this info, albeit in a must-be-interpreted format. It's nothing more than a mechanism for wringing money out of the vehicle owner.

Dammit!

[dimbear]

28. That deserves an answer. The answer is it is a scam to funnel repairs to dealers.

The charge they hit you with to download your fault codes is robbery.

The realistic amount of money to put a small readout in place of the jack: five bucks tops.

[Turbineguy]

2. It's amazing sometimes

how redundencies seem to fail at the critical moment.

[MiddleFingerMom]

3. I found out years ago that the most common reason for your "check engine" light...

.
.
.
... was that you had forgotten to put your gas cap back on back when you were pumping gas and
wasn't THAT an $8 replacement joy rather than some $800 piece of major engine work because
sometimes life just works out wonderfully but yes I HAVE always been the kind of spacey doofus
who would do things like forgetting to put a gas cap back on, thank you very much.
.
.
.

[intheflow]

11. This makes a lot of sense.

My check engine light recently came on right after I put in a few gallons, went away the next day when I filled the rest of the tank up. I'd put the cap back on but perhaps it wasn't tight enough.

[RebelOne]

16. That is usually the case.

Whenever my check engine light came on I would check the gas cap and tighten it. It would take a couple of days, but the light would go off.

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. "I suppose I should get that airbag warning light looked at too. "

Meh...that light has been ON in my 1993 Toyota since I bought it in 1994.
What I realized after I bought the car ( it had only 8,000 miles on it) was the hood had been repainted.
Car ran great, front end seemed fine, it drove in a straight line with no hands on the wheel, turned with no problem, etc. I have been driving it ever since, with no problem.
Might be that the air bag will not work if I hit something, I dunno. My freeway-cross country-long trip days are over, the car and I just putter around town a few times a month ( boy, do I save on gas bills!!) so I am not worried.
Seat belts work just fine.

[elleng]

9. Good news is AAA never locks itself out!!!

Glad the story has a 'happy' ending!

[progressoid]

13. One of my first thoughts...

Would be nice to have AAA.

But I haven't had that for about 25 years.

[RebelOne]

17. I have had AAA for the past 5 years and it has saved me a lot.

I have had to be towed a couple of times, had to have a flat tire changed, but the yearly dues have been worth the money I have saved on all those services.

[elleng]

22. Wouldn't drive without it, first thing I bought after insurance w my first car, 30+ years ago

and pay for daughter's membership. 2 weeks ago, they helped me get to shop to install new 'starter,' to my '93 Toyo Camry, when away from home. DEFINITELY couldn't have done without them.

I now have the Plus membership, $115 or so, but 'regular' membership only about $40.

[intheflow]

10. My car's owner's manual actually says to ignore the check engine light

until it's been on for a few days. It comes on occasionally, I ignore it, and then it goes away. Works every time. Until it doesn't, I guess.

[CBGLuthier]

12. Uhhm, the only reason the light went out was because you disconnected the battery.

That will almost always reset the check engine light until the computer starts reading faults again, such as misfires.

Now, I am not saying there is still a problem with your car but I would not be surprised if the light comes back on within a few weeks.

[progressoid]

14. So I've heard.

Unfortunately, if it does come back on, I'll still have to wait until more $ come in.

:sigh:

[Hassin Bin Sober]

30. If it does, take it to Autozone and have them get the fault for you for free.

They can also check batteries. Obviously you don't need your battery checked at this point. They checked my battery to verify it was the battery that was bad before they sold me a new one.

I can't remember if Autozone can check the alternator for operation within specs. If so, have it done. The alternator would be another item you need to rule out for a dead battery.

Either way, keep the cables in the car for the time being.

[HERVEPA]

15. You can buy the device to check the code yourself

for about $20 on ebay or Amazon. Works fine. Easy to use. No mechanical skill required.

[MiddleFingerMom]

18. "Penny" on "The Big Bang Theory" is always catching grief from passengers...

.
.
.
... about her "check engine" light.
.
It's a funny little piece of character development that I'm SURE lots of people
can identify with.
.
.
.

[progressoid]

19. Another of Sheldon's finer moments

[narnian60]

26. "Nailed it!" Bwahahaha!

[timesup]

20. You Can Go to Auto Zone

And have an employee check the reason code for you. Then check the internet for the meaning. Don't forget to tip.

[XRubicon]

23. If it flashes dont ignore it

If its not flashing usually not emergency. Take it to AutoZone and they'll read the code for free.

[UTUSN]

25. a Funny from a valued friend

So my light went on and I freaked and she said,


I just let it go until the battery wears out

[dimbear]

29. The main things to check are whether you have oil left and coolant left.

If you have those, you aren't going to immediately destroy your engine. Probably.

[Matariki]

31. Double for the oil light

Speaking from experience

[Laura PourMeADrink]

32. Absolutely Brilliant ! I just LMAO. Thanks