Help! 3rd time to dealer for "Check Engine Light" in a week :(

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FreshPrince

Diamond Member
Dec 6, 2001
8,361
1
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I smell something...

Last Thursday I took my 2000 Camery to the dealer to fix the check engine light. I figure no big deal, they'll probably look it over and reset a switch or something. Lady told me my car would be ready in 45mins, this was 9:00 in the morning. At noon, she called and told me my car will be ready at 5:00PM. No big deal, I work right across the street. Picked up the car at 5:00PM, no charge since I'm still under the 36K mi warranty. On my way home, the light popped up again. WTH! Took it back Saturday morning at 8:00 and stayed until noon. Car was fixed and ran fine...until tonight. On my way back from BK, the light popped up again! WIHIGO?!!! I'm gonna take it back tomorrow and ruin a rare day off since it's MLK day. What should I say to these people? Isn't there a law about fixing a car for the same problem 3 time in a short period of time? Not only that, but I'm starting to think there's something really wrong with my car and would require lots of money to fix. I don't know anything about cars, so I'll probably agree to anything the deal say to fix tomorrow. Those of you with car experience, please share with me what you think may be the problem, and more importantly what to look for so I won't get screwed over tomorrow.

thx!

- FP
 
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LordJezo

Banned
May 16, 2001
8,140
1
0
I fixed mine by putting a piece of electrical tape over the light.

Havent had a problem since! :)
 
F

FreshPrince

Diamond Member
Dec 6, 2001
8,361
1
0
Originally posted by: amdskip
Does it run ok? How many miles? Try another dealership?
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It runs fine and about 31K mi. I haven't tried another dealer but that may be the option if this one doesn't go well. I have a feeling it's probably something costly and they don't want to fix it because I'm almost at the end of the covered warranty. They probably want me to get sick and tired of it and take it back @ 37K mi and tell me it'll cost 2Gs to fix the problem :|

I fixed mine by putting a piece of electrical tape over the light.
Click to expand...

/me runs to get some duct tape :D
 
T

Thegonagle

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2000
9,773
0
71
Make sure service is open MLK day before you ruin your day off. If the shop's union, they won't be there.
 
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FreshPrince

Diamond Member
Dec 6, 2001
8,361
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Originally posted by: Garfang
Make sure service is open MLK day before you ruin your day off. If the shop's union, they won't be there.
Click to expand...

rgr, will make sure tomorrow morning. thx
 
C

cjchaps

Diamond Member
Jul 24, 2000
3,013
1
81
Do what someone else said, and see what is tripping the code. If you car runs fine, it might just be an O2 sensor or something that went out, or it could also be a big deal like engine timing problems...
 
Demon-Xanth

Demon-Xanth

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
20,551
2
81
Check your gas cap, it usually won't come on until after it has verified there's a problem after a few driving cycles.
 
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Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
9
0
Make sure you keep a record as if I remember correct, if they can't fix the car by the 3rd or 4th try then lemon law kicks in. BUT is does not sound that bad, so I would not recommend it. Someone is just resetting the light and not fixing it.

So tell them you want a FREE rental and leave the car there. When you call them and they tell you it is ready ask them if the car has been test driven at least 2-5 miles.
 
H

Hammer

Lifer
Oct 19, 2001
13,217
1
81
Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Check your gas cap, it usually won't come on until after it has verified there's a problem after a few driving cycles.
Click to expand...

i was gonna say the same thing, its easy to miss, but a bad seal will do this.
 
D

Doggiedog

Lifer
Aug 17, 2000
12,780
5
81
Sounds like a loose gas cap.

My Lexus GS300 had the same problem too. Fortunately, my friend was a Lexus mechanic and he kept helping me with it. Tighten the cap and if the light goes off after a day or so, then you have your solution.
 
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NogginBoink

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2002
5,322
0
0
I think that you could definitely use the lemon law to your advantage here, if you play your cards right.

Let 'em 'fix' it. If the light comes on again, you may honestly be entitled to a new car under the lemon law (I am so totally not sure of this and you'll need a lawyer to make it stick).

Threaten with that and you'll probably get great service next time! :) (Either that or they'll unplug the light so it never comes on again.)
 
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Vortex22

Diamond Member
Sep 6, 2000
4,976
1
81
My mom just took her 02 Highlander in for the check engine light. I tried to figure out how to get it to flash the error code but I couldn't find the circuit that I was supposed to short to get it to work.

Anyway, it was just a loose "emission hose" or something.
 
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arcas

Platinum Member
Apr 10, 2001
2,155
2
0
Next time the check engine light comes on, take the car to your local Autozone. They'll attach their computer and read the code for free.

 
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FreshPrince

Diamond Member
Dec 6, 2001
8,361
1
0
Originally posted by: Vortex22
My mom just took her 02 Highlander in for the check engine light. I tried to figure out how to get it to flash the error code but I couldn't find the circuit that I was supposed to short to get it to work.

Anyway, it was just a loose "emission hose" or something.
Click to expand...

that's what they told me they replaced the 1st time, but it still came back on. And yes, everyone, I checked the gas cap to make sure it's not lose. Anyhoo, it's in the shop now. Hopefully they find out what's wrongs..otherwise I just might ask for a free rental and leave my car there for a couple of days until they actually figure out that's wrong with the darn thing. And if it's still buggy, then I'll be doing some research on lemon law. I doubt I'd get a new car though....but still a nice idea ;)
 
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