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4944 messages, Last post on Oct 31, 2009 at 12:04 PM

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What is this discussion about? Brakes, Electrical, Engine, Exhaust

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#3263 of 4944 Check Engine light related to Oil Sludge? 1998 Lexus ES 300 by tammy10 Mar 09, 2007 (6:12 am)
I'm new here, I'd really appreciate some advice. I am the second owner of a 1998 ES 300 with approximately 86k miles. I purchased the car 12/01 when it was 4 years old and had 35k miles on it so I've had it a little over 5 years. So, the car is 9 years old as of last December. I have never taken the car to the dealer for service because the dealer has always been quite far from my house and have moved so much I don't have a regular mechanic. My "check engine" light has come on three separate times, starting in May of 2005. The first mechanic said it was the O2 sensor and he reset it. Later it came back on. The second mechanic replaced that sensor. The engine light came back on but the same mechanic said it was the "knock sensor" - P-330 and he reset that because the "condition wasn't present at that time." Now the engine light is back on and I am aware that in addition my engine has a significant sludge problem. I've changed the oil every 3-5k miles. Unfortunately, neither of the mechanics mentioned the sludge problem to me. My question is this- is the oxygen and/or knock sensor possibly related to the sludge? I ask because I have a claim with Lexus/Toyota re: sludge only if I can show that the sludge problem existed within 8 years of purchase (the car is nine years old). If the engine light reoccurance will demonstrate that (it started within 6-7 years of purchase) it may help my case. I need to know soon because my rights to further the claim expire next week. If I have to get a new engine it could be more than 10,000 dollars. Thanks so much!
#3264 of 4944 p.s. Check Engine Light and Oil Sludge by tammy10 Mar 09, 2007 (6:16 am)
Re: Sludge as defect re: maintenence issue~ I do realize the first owner may not have changed the oil regularly for the first 35k miles. However, the oil was "clean" when I purchased it and the car was originally leased. I would assume the chance a person never changed the oil on a leased car for four years is remote. Replies to this message: burdawg (Mar 09, 2007 6:30 am) tammy10 (Mar 09, 2007 6:41 am)
#3265 of 4944 Re: p.s. Check Engine Light and Oil Sludge [tammy10] by burdawg Mar 09, 2007 (6:30 am)
Replying to: tammy10 (Mar 09, 2007 6:16 am) I have no first hand knowledge myself, but based on what I have read I believe that Toyota is going to want proof of what service was done when before authorizing any settlement. Replies to this message: tammy10 (Mar 09, 2007 6:41 am)
#3266 of 4944 Re: p.s. Check Engine Light and Oil Sludge [burdawg] by tammy10 Mar 09, 2007 (6:41 am)
Replying to: burdawg (Mar 09, 2007 6:30 am) Yes, they are. I do have several oil change receipts. They may require proof of an oil change once per year and I have much more than that, albeit I am missing the first four years. I need to prove two things 1. "reasonable maintanance" and 2. the problem occurred within 8 years of original sale- which is my big hurdle. I am hoping the engine light issue may demonstrate that.
#3267 of 4944 1992 F150 by ktinson Mar 11, 2007 (4:40 am)
My truck will start in the morning but after it runs for awhile, the distributer stops firing. I have changed the distributer, coil, and several sensors. Can anyone tell me what may be the problem?
#3268 of 4944 Rear Brakes on a VW Beetle??? by jonny5_24 Mar 14, 2007 (6:39 am)
How do I compress the cylinder? Is there some trick I am missing? Please help!!! Replies to this message: kiawah (Mar 14, 2007 3:09 pm) burdawg (Mar 15, 2007 5:31 am)
#3269 of 4944 2004 Grand Prix Cd Player by abc1923 Mar 14, 2007 (7:23 am)
Hello, I hope somebody can help me with this problem. On my Grand Prix, cd player suddenly stopped working. I can not even put cd in. It seems like two metal thing is not letting cd in. any ideas? Thank you
#3270 of 4944 Re: Rear Brakes on a VW Beetle??? [jonny5_24] by kiawah Mar 14, 2007 (3:09 pm)
Replying to: jonny5_24 (Mar 14, 2007 6:39 am) I haven't worked on a VW Beetle, but on all my other cars and trucks with disk brakes.......you simply put a large C-clamp on it and tighten it down slowly (the brake fluid will flow back up to the master cylinder). Take care not to crimp any of the gaskets with the clamp. One side of the clamp on the center of the cylinder, the other side on the back side of the caliper.
#3271 of 4944 Re: Rear Brakes on a VW Beetle??? [jonny5_24] by burdawg Mar 15, 2007 (5:31 am)
Replying to: jonny5_24 (Mar 14, 2007 6:39 am) You most likely need to turn the piston in with a special tool. On rear discs this is almost always the case unless there's a separate parking brake system (like in many MB's). You can get universal tools at most auto parts, and actually, I've made my own out of hardwood blocks.
#3272 of 4944 Exhaust Leak into Cooling System - Coincidence? by cslemaker Mar 15, 2007 (9:31 am)
I have a 1989 Trooper 4-cylinder. Is there any way the actions involved in disconnecting the stuff connected to or near the valve cover, removing the valve cover, adjusting the valves, then closing things back up could cause an exhaust leak into the coolant passages to develop? I had a valve adjustment performed and immediately thereafter noticed the temp gauge doing funny things. Under the hood I found that coolant had filled the reservoir and sprayed the engine and underside of the hood. After trying a few other things (such as a new radiator cap), my mechanic pulled the spark plugs, pressurized the cooling system, and informed me that one of the cylinders then contained coolant. (I would bet it was the same cylinder that had low compression and necessitated the valve adjustment. I would also bet that it was the exhaust valve causing the low compression.) I find it very hard to believe that this was 100% pure coincidence (valve adjust & exhaust leak). Thanks for your opinion and answer to my opening question.