@medz I bought a BAFX OBDII diagnostic thingy a few years ago. I guess I should hook it up to my car someday. In the meantime I’ll tighten the gas cap.
@Fuzzalini Same, I’ve got a little bluetooth one, pop it in, pull up the app on my phone, it tells me it’s the same knock sensor issue I’ve been having forever, which is a known software bug with my car that I just haven’t gotten updated. I then clear the code.
@spacemart like those road signs when you come out of a tunnel that say Check Headlights. They’re always still there, are there headlight stealing trolls hiding in the tunnels?
My engine light has been flashing on recently, but then goes off after a second or two. Scanner says no codes. But the frequency and duration is increasing. Any ideas? Or it’s just possessed?
@unksol not blinking. Just coming on briefly then off seemingly randomly. But it is becoming more frequent and it stays on for a few seconds instead of just blinking. Right now no discernible pattern (idling, accelerating, turning, cold/hot, highway, speed…)
No pending faults came up on reader, but I don’t know if that reader detects pending faults.
@cpierce The check engine light on my 2001 Tacoma is on due to a bad MAF sensor. I bought a replacement and couldn’t get the old one off. I finally got a closer look and saw that, somewhere earlier in its life, someone had broken one of the mounting posts and so had just welded the sensor in place.
So I’ve just dealt with having the light on the last couple of years.
My truck’s check engine light has been on for over two years now. I think it’s the catalytic converter 'cause I can smell something getting hot sometimes. I’ll get it fixed one of these days. Or it’ll catch fire and my insurance company can buy it from me. Meh.
/giphy truck fire
@PocketBrain Mine has bluetooth to connect to my phone where I can get diagnostics from a third party app. Assuming I get around to installing the app and the OBDII thingy.
@narfcake@ThunderChicken You forgot gauges. Boy I miss having gauges. When my 1990 ghetto van (grand caravan, had from new) finally bit the dust 25 and 3 later I realized that the idiot lights that are now common are nearly useless since you can’t head off some problems before they happen by keeping an eye on the gauges. Had I a battery gauge on the 10 year old thing I bought I would have caught that the battery was dying before the van refused, out of the blue (to me anyway) refused to start because prior to that it started flawlessly.
I don’t mind “complicated”, if it serves some decent goal and might give results measurably better than “simple”.
I do mind “destined to inevitable early failure” when whatever is expensive or hard to repair or replace, and is an important part of something that should last a long time
In my 2004 Ford Taurus SEL, it is almost certainly a p0193 code, as this has been the only cause for the check engine light coming on for the last 4+ years. It usually goes away on its own within a day or three and when it doesn’t, I’ll eventually get around to clearing it.
The actual problem is either the connector for the sensor or the wiring to said connector. I know this because the engine has none of the other symptoms that would accompany a bad pressure regulator or bad sensor.
@phendrick You are quite welcome. I have found it to be useful when dealing with the check engine light on other people’s cars. (For mine too, though in my car’s case, I’ve not needed to look anything up for years.)
I had an engine monitor/programmer added to my 2008 Dodge diesel pickup when I had a major project done (new turbo, $5K ouch, but that included the $1K controller with EGT sensor, plus brake work. Dealer wanted almost $7K just for the turbo.). With the controller I can read the codes and clear. There was still an intermittent code. Intermittent self-test fail on the throttle body assembly. Could live with it but decided I deserved a check-engine-free experience, since I use it on long cross-country drives. So another $1K for that. Seems like a lot until you look at the prices they want for new trucks these days.
@looseneck@zinimusprime I don’t think this is a good example of a humblebrag at all. It’s just mild snark. There is no element of complaint or self-deprecation.
@zinimusprime It’s my first time mentioning it here. I bought it last year just before the tax rebate got cut. I wouldn’t have been able to afford it otherwise. Still a stretch with monthly payments, but I don’t regret it.
@DennisG2014 Dennis, ok fine! I have a 2014 Beetle and the check engine light has been on the last couple months. I feel better about it though now! Woohoo!
Mine came on last week, and was a MAF sensor code.
I replaced the air filter, then removed and sprayed the sensor off with cleaner and the light went off.
9 times out of 10 the light means something that is easy to handle, and I’m not even a car guy.
I think my dad’s old Nissan truck even had the maintenance light turn on at scheduled intervals (e.g. 60,000 miles) just because it was a scheduled service interval.
In July I had to get a 2012 Tiguan inspected. Check engine light has been on for 6+ months (Turbo Charger issue, already replaced the diverter, no luck) Anyways, I reset the check engine light with the OBD reader and crossed my fingers the check engine light would stay off long enough for us to pass inspection. And it did! Came back on about 30 minutes later. whew
Unpopular opinion: go to service and fix it It mustn’t be an expensive service because you always can do it in cheaper way, for example, use used auto parts.
aka the money light
Freak out, tell myself I’ll make an appointment with the shop when I get home, forget, get in the car tomorrow, repeat till car is well broken.
Check to make sure the gas cap is tightened all the way.
Hook up the code reader and see what’s up. Usually just tighten the gas cap like @heartny said.
@medz I bought a BAFX OBDII diagnostic thingy a few years ago. I guess I should hook it up to my car someday. In the meantime I’ll tighten the gas cap.
@medz Bought one for $20 on Amazon. Money well spent. In my case it’s usually an engine misfire. Reset it until it happens again six months later.
@Fuzzalini Same, I’ve got a little bluetooth one, pop it in, pull up the app on my phone, it tells me it’s the same knock sensor issue I’ve been having forever, which is a known software bug with my car that I just haven’t gotten updated. I then clear the code.
i ignore it now. everytime i check the engine it’s still there!
@spacemart like those road signs when you come out of a tunnel that say Check Headlights. They’re always still there, are there headlight stealing trolls hiding in the tunnels?
Methinks this poll is another repeat. Dejà vu.
@katbyter I missed that. Could you say it again?
My engine light has been flashing on recently, but then goes off after a second or two. Scanner says no codes. But the frequency and duration is increasing. Any ideas? Or it’s just possessed?
@katbyter Short in the circuit of the light itself?
@katbyter On second thought, you’re probably right. It’s possessed.
@katbyter a steadily blinking one usually means it’s an emergency. If it’s just one on then off… Did you check pending faults as well?
@unksol not blinking. Just coming on briefly then off seemingly randomly. But it is becoming more frequent and it stays on for a few seconds instead of just blinking. Right now no discernible pattern (idling, accelerating, turning, cold/hot, highway, speed…)
No pending faults came up on reader, but I don’t know if that reader detects pending faults.
@unksol P.S. It’s 20-year old Chevy conversion van, so no stranger to issues, but this is new.
Ignore it. It’s the owner’s problem anyway.
@hchavers Rental, lease, or company car? Or stolen?
@ThunderChicken What’s the difference?
Ignore it, it’s just an O2 sensor. Probably.
@cpierce The check engine light on my 2001 Tacoma is on due to a bad MAF sensor. I bought a replacement and couldn’t get the old one off. I finally got a closer look and saw that, somewhere earlier in its life, someone had broken one of the mounting posts and so had just welded the sensor in place.
So I’ve just dealt with having the light on the last couple of years.
My truck’s check engine light has been on for over two years now. I think it’s the catalytic converter 'cause I can smell something getting hot sometimes. I’ll get it fixed one of these days. Or it’ll catch fire and my insurance company can buy it from me. Meh.
/giphy truck fire
Hook up your OBDII gadget and Google the results. Then clear the notice, since you just left your gas door open too long again.
@PocketBrain Mine has bluetooth to connect to my phone where I can get diagnostics from a third party app. Assuming I get around to installing the app and the OBDII thingy.
All of my vehicles pre-date OBD-II and my truck only rolled 300k miles at the end of August.
@narfcake But don’t you long for the days when a car’s onboard diagnostics consisted of smoke, rattles, whines, belches, shimmies, and wup-wup-wups?
@narfcake @ThunderChicken You forgot gauges. Boy I miss having gauges. When my 1990 ghetto van (grand caravan, had from new) finally bit the dust 25 and 3 later I realized that the idiot lights that are now common are nearly useless since you can’t head off some problems before they happen by keeping an eye on the gauges. Had I a battery gauge on the 10 year old thing I bought I would have caught that the battery was dying before the van refused, out of the blue (to me anyway) refused to start because prior to that it started flawlessly.
@ThunderChicken IOW, the current way I diagnose things?
@Kidsandliz Some newer cars don’t have any gauges at all now. It’s all screens.
@Kidsandliz @narfcake @ThunderChicken
Those screens will be real fab in about 15 years.
Aiming anyone wants to mess with a 2019 or 2020 vehicle 15 years from now.
@f00l Might not even have to wait that long. Some Tesla owners have already dealt with failing displays on the MCU.
That said, wasn’t the repair aspect an argument over “computerized fuel injection” and other “complicated” systems a couple decades ago?
@narfcake
I don’t mind “complicated”, if it serves some decent goal and might give results measurably better than “simple”.
I do mind “destined to inevitable early failure” when whatever is expensive or hard to repair or replace, and is an important part of something that should last a long time
In my 2004 Ford Taurus SEL, it is almost certainly a p0193 code, as this has been the only cause for the check engine light coming on for the last 4+ years. It usually goes away on its own within a day or three and when it doesn’t, I’ll eventually get around to clearing it.
The actual problem is either the connector for the sensor or the wiring to said connector. I know this because the engine has none of the other symptoms that would accompany a bad pressure regulator or bad sensor.
@baqui63 Thanks for the link. That looks like a very useful site and I hadn’t seen it before.
@phendrick You are quite welcome. I have found it to be useful when dealing with the check engine light on other people’s cars. (For mine too, though in my car’s case, I’ve not needed to look anything up for years.)
It’s just the onboard breathalyzer.
I had an engine monitor/programmer added to my 2008 Dodge diesel pickup when I had a major project done (new turbo, $5K ouch, but that included the $1K controller with EGT sensor, plus brake work. Dealer wanted almost $7K just for the turbo.). With the controller I can read the codes and clear. There was still an intermittent code. Intermittent self-test fail on the throttle body assembly. Could live with it but decided I deserved a check-engine-free experience, since I use it on long cross-country drives. So another $1K for that. Seems like a lot until you look at the prices they want for new trucks these days.
It is still under warranty, so back to the dealer.
Take it to Auto Zone so they can read the code thingy for me for free.
I’m in the wrong car. I don’t have an engine so no light.
/image Tesla 3
@looseneck and here we have a humble brag.
@looseneck @zinimusprime I don’t think this is a good example of a humblebrag at all. It’s just mild snark. There is no element of complaint or self-deprecation.
@zinimusprime It’s my first time mentioning it here. I bought it last year just before the tax rebate got cut. I wouldn’t have been able to afford it otherwise. Still a stretch with monthly payments, but I don’t regret it.
@Limewater @looseneck touché.
I stand corrected.
@looseneck Is it red? Nice!
@looseneck Nice!
Also:
@sammydog01 No it’s black. I used to own a red Firebird back in the day and all my other cars have been blue. I needed a change
@looseneck I was just bustin on ya. Truth is, I’m 100% jealous.
@looseneck you got screwed if your Tesla didn’t come with an engine.
For a newer car, I will probably head to the dealer, especially if still under warranty.
I recently had to retire a car that lasted for 360,000 miles. The check engine light was on for the last 200,000 of those.
I keep a bluetooth OBD2 reader plugged in all the time, so my phone tells me right away what’s up
It must be a Volkswagen.
@DennisG2014 what’s that supposed to mean?
@moonhat
@moonhat
@moonhat
@moonhat
@moonhat
@moonhat
@DennisG2014 @moonhat
Check engine light comes on
woe is me.
Oh, wait, this is a VW.
all good then.
@moonhat
@moonhat
@DennisG2014 Dennis, ok fine! I have a 2014 Beetle and the check engine light has been on the last couple months. I feel better about it though now! Woohoo!
@moonhat Must be your first VW. Get used to it.
Good news is, the fix is easy…
Just put some tape over it.
@DennisG2014 It could be worse …
/image Audi assume the position
Yep, just a sensor. I’m more worried about the exhaust pipe being broken, and all the shaking and rattling. Wish the damn car would die already.
TPM batteries are dead too.
And something is up with the passenger airbag sensor.
When I turn on cruise control it’s basically Christmas on my dashboard.
Mine came on last week, and was a MAF sensor code.
I replaced the air filter, then removed and sprayed the sensor off with cleaner and the light went off.
9 times out of 10 the light means something that is easy to handle, and I’m not even a car guy.
I think my dad’s old Nissan truck even had the maintenance light turn on at scheduled intervals (e.g. 60,000 miles) just because it was a scheduled service interval.
@zachdecker My 1990 van was like that - triggered by number of miles, not anything going on with the engine too.
I check the internet for advice. And then you guys. My check engine light is now off, thanks for asking.
In July I had to get a 2012 Tiguan inspected. Check engine light has been on for 6+ months (Turbo Charger issue, already replaced the diverter, no luck) Anyways, I reset the check engine light with the OBD reader and crossed my fingers the check engine light would stay off long enough for us to pass inspection. And it did! Came back on about 30 minutes later. whew
Buy a sticker and put it on
Unpopular opinion: go to service and fix it
It mustn’t be an expensive service because you always can do it in cheaper way, for example, use used auto parts.