How the internet saved me car repair money

When I went got in my Jeep to drive home from work, I found my "Check Engine" light on. Predictably, I cursed under my breath, knowing that it would cost $50-100 just to have it diagnosed.

However, I thought better of driving right to the shop. I went home, hit Google, and typed in "97 jeep engine check engine light". The very first site on Google's list had a list of error codes that could cause the light to come on. It said that to get the error code, I had to turn the ignition from off to on three times in five seconds. This would result in either the odometer displaying the error or the light itself flashing to indicate the number.

I went out to the Jeep, did what the site recommended. Sure enough, after I did the on and off routine, the odometer displayed "12", and the light flashed once, paused, then flashes twice.

I came back inside, found error code 12 and breathed a sigh of relief. It said that the battery power to the PCM had come loose at some point during the last 50 ignition cycles.

Since everything still has power and I have not noticed anything irregular with performance, I will simply wait out a few more trips to see if it turns itself off. I fully expect that it will, so I will go piss away the $50-100 on games or eating out. Thanks, internet. :D

Even though I'm glad that you didnt have to get jipped by a garage, I'm sure some people here would have wished that you payed for the repair. Nice pull, Yosh.

What would have been better, was to take your car to a repair shop, and see what cockamamie problem they said.


It would be a good way to find out WHO you can trust, if you ever develop a serious problem.


You could just go out to your money tree and grab some money to pay them.

The gas tank in my car gives me false readings once and awhile so I know what you mean. It's happened twice thus far and it isn't fun having the grease monkey tell you that the problem is the gas tank wasn't closed properly. After the second time I realized that there was obviously something wrong with the gas tank and not my cap screwing ability.

Some vehicles get the check engine light, right after they exceed the warranty mileage.

I'd also like to warn anyone, thinking about taking your car to Firestone for repairs. They are the biggest rip-off! I took my company truck there, for a brake change. The guy at the shop called me and said that the rotors needed replacing, because they were .1 micron below factory specs. That's less than a human hair! I told the guy to just change the brakes, but he said they couldn't do it, because of legal issues. :rolleyes:

My wife decided to take her car to a Firestone shop about a month ago. They pulled the same stunt on her, but she never called me to ask about it. The brake change ended up being around $650. Sure she had to have the master cylinder replaced, but the rotors? Her car doesn't even have 60k miles on it. :bang:

The check engine light has been on in my '97 Civic LX for 2 years now. I took it into a Honda dealership once (right after it came on) and they said it had something to do with the O2 Manafold (whatever the fuck that is) and it was going to coast me $450 to fix it. I was going to go ahead and do it but they dicked me around on a time I could bring it in and after 2 more visits of being told that they didn't have anyone there to work on it I just said "fuck it" and started driving it again all the time. It runs perfectly (took it across country this year) but I've never been able to find any info on how to check it like Yoshi did for his Jeep.

Yeah, if you've got a car popular enough to have a devoted fanbase, do a search for a forum and then do some searching, you can find out everything, and possibly make some local contacts. I'm getting a transmission for my car from a guy I met online who is in the next town over for a scant $150.

Xeno: I did a quick search, it's probably your Oxygen Sensor(s?) are fucked. That will always throw a check engine light, but it's no big deal. If it's messed up, it just means your car isn't as fuel efficient as it could be. I did a quick search, and unfortunately the price you were quoted is about right.. I was getting $300-400 for the sensor. I wouldn't bother changing it unless your state has a safety inspection that won't pass you if you have the light on.

95% of check engine lights are O2 sensors or gas caps. If it's running fine and sounds fine with a check engine light that's all it is.

I'm not familiar with Jeeps specifically Yoshi, but you should be able to reset that light yourself by disconnecting the battery for a minute or so.

The 97 ford probe my family has does the exact same shit in regards to the oxygen sensor. Every time that bitch comes on the milespergal drops by like half.

About the computer, you guys do know that you can take it to autozone and they will check it for free, right?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Yoshi

When I went got in my Jeep to drive home from work, I found my "Check Engine" light on. Predictably, I cursed under my breath, knowing that it would cost $50-100 just to have it diagnosed.

However, I thought better of driving right to the shop. I went home, hit Google, and typed in "97 jeep engine check engine light". The very first site on Google's list had a list of error codes that could cause the light to come on. It said that to get the error code, I had to turn the ignition from off to on three times in five seconds. This would result in either the odometer displaying the error or the light itself flashing to indicate the number.

I went out to the Jeep, did what the site recommended. Sure enough, after I did the on and off routine, the odometer displayed "12", and the light flashed once, paused, then flashes twice.

I came back inside, found error code 12 and breathed a sigh of relief. It said that the battery power to the PCM had come loose at some point during the last 50 ignition cycles.

Since everything still has power and I have not noticed anything irregular with performance, I will simply wait out a few more trips to see if it turns itself off. I fully expect that it will, so I will go piss away the $50-100 on games or eating out. Thanks, internet. :D

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Yoshi, almost the same thing happened to me only I had to pay.....

Suddenly one morning when I cranked my car it was smoking like a freight train... this is not good... not good at all I thought...

I looked at the smoke it was thick, smelled sweet.... just like a blown head gasket would.. im freaking out. but the car is running fine.. no rough idle or anything.

I call a couple mechanics make an appointment that isnt for two days and keep driving since the engine is running smooth and I keep checking the fluid levels, odd thing.... my tranny fluid levels are emptying every day (thats right, I have to completely refill it everyday and my oil levels are rising. :confused:

So I take it to the mechanic, they have it for a week and decide it must be valve guide seals, I think odd but am no mechanic so go with it. $800.00 dollars later its still happening and after 3 or so more trips to this mechanic with no fix I say fuck it and try two more mechanics.

After much back n forth and after many mechanics over a 5-6 weeks period of time my car is still smoking, draining tranny fluids that arent going to the ground.. and engine oil levels rising.

Disgusted and with no where else to go I head to the Internet, within 15 minutes after posting on an Auto repair forum I get the advice of a genuine certified 20+ year mechanic so I head down to the part store buy the part and head home to install it myself.

After all my trouble and $800.00 dollars from my wallet, a 15 minutes search on the web a $15.00 part called a Transmission regulator valve pump which took 15 minutes to install had fixed my problem.

I called the mechanic to gloat that some smuck with a peecee had fixed a problem which he and all his local colleges could not. Moral of the story: The Interweb Is Your Friend.