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Check Engine light

1691 messages,  Last post on Jun 11, 2013 at 12:26 PM

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What is this discussion about? Fuel System, Electrical, Engine

Messages Page 169 of 170

#1679 of 1691 Re: trouble codes for a 2001 chrysler sebring [svarnado] by srs_49

Jan 17, 2013 (6:03 pm)

Replying to: svarnado (Jan 17, 2013 5:33 pm)
Transmission fluid, level or dirty, (if you're lucky).
 
Something more serious with the transmission if you're not.

#1680 of 1691 Error codes - how long are they kept in memory? by pedalbrake37

Feb 08, 2013 (7:17 am)

I have a 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid...haven't had any major problems with it until the last 6 months or so. Every now & then a warning light would display indicating a fault with the hybrid drive system. It was intermittent, and since the closest hybrid-certified dealer is 45 minutes away, I didn't immediately take it in (since the light was intermittent & there was no noticeable affect on the vehicle function).
 
A couple months ago, I was travelling & the hybrid drive warning light came on - I would be passing by the dealer, so I called to see if I could stop in & have them read the code. They read it & said that it was a possible problem with the CVT drive, but since it was intermittent, wondered if it was just a sensor problem. They already had two other FEH's in the shop waiting on parts, so they didn't want to schedule anything immediately.
 
Fast forward to mid-January. The hybrid drive warning light had intermittently come on & gone off for the last couple months, but this time, while I was driving (city stop & go) around town, the hybrid drive warning light came on, shortly followed by an alternating complete loss of power to a surge in acceleration. I tried to hobble the vehicle back to my office (this is a work vehicle), and the "Master Vehicle Electrical Hazard Warning" light came on, followed by my vehicle completely shutting down.
 
The vehicle was towed to the dealer, they checked the codes & replaced the throttle body & reprogrammed the PCM; called me & told me it was ready to pick up. I arranged for a ride down & before I left the parking lot, it was doing THE EXACT SAME THING! Now the dealer is telling me that they need to replace the Shifter Lever Assembly, based on the "new" trouble code (which they charged me $75 for).
 
The dealer claims that the only code they initially found (when it was towed to them) was one indicating the throttle body problem. They claim no other codes were present. Now the code is for the shift lever assembly. Same symptoms, two completely different root causes?
 
On to the question: How long does computer hold error codes? I have a hard time believing that they didn't pick up the "old" CVT error code when they were initially assessing the code that led them to replacing the throttle body. I have expressed my extreme dissatisfaction with the service manager, but he stands by his claim that: "the only code present was the throttle body code". Am I being screwed?
 
Thanks!

#1681 of 1691 Re: Error codes - how long are they kept in memory? [pedalbrake37] by thecardoc3

Mar 18, 2013 (6:10 pm)

Replying to: pedalbrake37 (Feb 08, 2013 7:17 am)
On to the question: How long does computer hold error codes?
 
That "depends" on what code is setting, and the frequency of the failure events can play a role. Most codes will self clear from the long term memory after fifty re-starts if the problem doesn't occur again. Some codes never clear until they are commanded to. The real fun starts when some tests that would generate another code are blocked from running because of a code already in the system memory.
 
I have a hard time believing that they didn't pick up the "old" CVT error code when they were initially assessing the code that led them to replacing the throttle body
 
While it may not seem likely at first, another possible explanation explanation may have to do with the re-flash. There could be a criteria change for the shifter code generation and that may have gotten it to set easier. The throttle body problem is a common issue and yes, the car acts exactly as you described. Then again with the random failure, the code for the shifter may have self cleared.
 
I have expressed my extreme dissatisfaction with the service manager, but he stands by his claim that: "the only code present was the throttle body code". Am I being screwed
 
Probably not, but by now the tech is. When we diagnose a vehicle and the data and trouble codes only reveal one problem,( in this case the throttle body). And then for the period of time that the tech has the car, it gives him/her no other symptoms, what would any reasonable person do? Why they would fix what they found wrong, and STOP. Imagine the tech saying something like "The shifters cause a similar symptom, so I should just replace it right now too."
 
It's a pretty safe bet you'd be thinking that would be a rip-off, right?
 
When I work with any of these cars, I pull all of the codes from every computer on the car with the push of a single button. Then I open paint and paste the screen shot and store it in a folder under the customers name. While not every tech does this, I do it because these kinds of questions have arisen in the past, and when I can pull the screen shot up I have proof of exactly what was there when I started.
 
I often talk about consumers having a car that has a problem, but its not real bad so they keep driving it. Then a second problem occurs and it still isn't bad enough to get them to fix it. And then there is a third, and a fourth etc until one day when the car is so bad that they don't have a choice so they finally bring the car into a shop. The question now becomes, which problem is the one that got the car into the shop? How likely is the customer to be satisfied with the repair attempt if all of the problems are not found and solved? (in some cases, the customer doesn't even want all of the problems solved, that usually ends badly too when they come back with it still doing "the same thing") There are many times that the tech has to cut down some of the trees to see the forest.

#1682 of 1691 Re: Error codes - how long are they kept in memory? [pedalbrake37] by yourmechanic

Mar 22, 2013 (11:16 am)

Replying to: pedalbrake37 (Feb 08, 2013 7:17 am)
It could be that your car has multiple problems and the mechanic was only able to diagnose (codes provided) and fix few of the issues. Check light will turn off. After awhile, your computer will recheck the car again, then the light will turn back on.
 
The computer is constantly rechecking the car.

#1683 of 1691 sometimes on sometimes off by jproc

Apr 08, 2013 (6:56 am)

For the past month or so my check engine light will come on and in a few days go off.Then in a week or so come on again etc.
This has happened 3-4 times now.Has this happened to anyone else and I am guessing that it is not as significant as a constantly on check engine light.
This is for an 2000 Sienna XLE.Anyone have any experience or thoughts on this?

#1684 of 1691 Re: sometimes on sometimes off [jproc] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Apr 08, 2013 (8:04 am)

Replying to: jproc (Apr 08, 2013 6:56 am)
I'm going to take a guess here that you may have an intermittent misfire which only occurs under certain load/speed conditions.
 
It would be interesting for you to log when the light goes on--that is, what are you and your car doing at the time?
 
Probably you'd want to have the computer scanned anyway---if this is a misfire, it's going to get worse over time I'd guess.

#1685 of 1691 99 Rodeo by thompson42

Apr 13, 2013 (7:55 am)

Has anyone had a problem with a 99 Rodeo 6cyl. My daughter drove it to school, then it wouldn't start, tried to jump it, absolutely no power. I replace the Battery, all the bells and whistle turned on, as soon as I tried to start the vehicle I lost everything and the Vehicle had no power. I mean nothing, even with a new battery.

#1686 of 1691 Re: 99 Rodeo [thompson42] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Apr 13, 2013 (8:43 am)

Replying to: thompson42 (Apr 13, 2013 7:55 am)
Couple of possibilities:
 
Bad battery right off the shelf (not charged up)
 
Shift lever not actually in Park or Neutral
 
Neutral safety switch is defective (switch that prevents a car from starting in Drive)
 
Bad battery cables, from positive to starter motor, or negative to ground
 
Bad starter motor or starter motor relay

#1688 of 1691 2014 Equinox by wingroot

May 10, 2013 (12:21 pm)

Just had a call from my Chevy dealer that I can come in and order a 2014 Nox. Any other info. on this topic?

Messages Page 169 of 170

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