I screwed up. A couple of months ago I dropped the gas cap when I was filling the tank. A tiny little ring-shaped liner fell out of the middle of the inside of the gas cap. When I looked in the owners manual and online, it said that this could cause a problem. But it didn't. Things were fine.
Then a few days ago the "check engine" light came on. Turned out today that it wasn't a real problem (whew!!!!) but that the loss of that little ring meant the gas cap was not sealed tightly enough. The new gas cap cost $15. The diagnostic procedure, however, cost $90. Thank heavens for the honest mechanic who didn't exploit my stupid mistake.
If I'd known, I could've solved this problem before it started. Hopefully somebody else will be prevented from a similar screw-up.
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We just went through the same problem with Rebekah's car...too much oxygen in the tank, I believe. We put on a new gas cap and we are still getting a check engine light...so it is not getting rid of the problem, but the car runs fine. We have to look into it a bit more.
ReplyDeleteI really don't like care stuff...but it is nice to have a mechanic you can trust.
Laura
$90 for that and you don't feel exploited?
ReplyDeleteok....
Please call me next time your computer is acting funny!
;-)
Well, in comparison to what I've always paid before for computer diagnostics on the car engine, that actually seems pretty decent.
ReplyDeleteCheckers, the auto store, does free engine diagnostics for most makes/models.
ReplyDeleteI've heard tell other stores do similar things.
Those stupid diagnostic fees are a joke... considering they plug a little computer in that tells them the answer in seconds.
Just to make you feel better... Our Suburban needed power steering fluid I put it where I remember the mechanic showing me it needed to go...I remembered wrong. Put it in the hydraulic brake resevoir. $400 later Dh spent our vacation when we were supposed to go to LA replacing the brakes and brake lines. But we saved the money of the labor b/c he did it himself.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a "blonde moment"!!
Jenn