(no subject)

[razorjak]

I'll be the first to admit I know jackshit about cars. I know how to drive. I know how to change the oil and keep the fluids topped off, etc etc etc.

But to actually know what's wrong with a car? Nope, not a chance.

Sooo, I'm driving home from the grocery store and I notice the "Check Engine" light starts to flicker and then go solid. There's no weird noises. No whines or wurrs or whathaveyou. I just had the oil changed.

Seriously? What good is the "check engine" light if you really don't have the money to take it into a shoppe to have it looked at?

Comments

[montieth.livejournal.com]

You might be able to borrow a diagnostic box from an Autozone or similar shop. Get a chiltons and factory service manual for it as well. Some vehicles have a diagnostic mode that'll let you bridge two pins, hit some electronic control inside (turn signals, starter key, etc) and actually get X number of flashes out of a light to work through an odd sort of diagnostic tree to determine problems. It'll take time, but you'll be able to sort out a problem on the cheap.

Also, the emissions control bits will sometimes trigger an error like this if there is something as simple as a loose gas cap on the fuel tank. Check the manual for that error code (could be that or a separate service engine error light).

[mspaintchuk.livejournal.com]

Thats exactly what I came in to say.