That'll be 69 dollars

[Charlie Morgan]

Stop and think for a minute. In the old days, problems could fester and develop into major disasters without warning. If the problem didn't happen to make a loud noise, you simply didn't know about it. That check engine light, (connected to a f***in' computer) let you know that something was wrong. It could be any number of things. Would you prefer the indicator known as "Stranded in the middle of nowhere late at night in a thunderstorm"? You can safely bet that a tow truck will charge you more than $69 just to show up.

So then you go to the dealer, who DOES FIND AND FIX a problem. (stuck wiring, whatever that is - most wires are there dfor a reason, and that one might have been capable of burning up a wiring harness or worse) Without that "f***in' computer" the mechanic might have spent many hours trying to track down an intermittent problem. The bill would have been considerably higher than $69. Maybe 10 times that amount.

In other words, you should be very thankful for "f***in' computers" and especially thankful for that incredibly measly repair bill.

CWM

[h_k]

"Toller" wrote in news:4bKuh.1468$ [e-mail]:

You should get it checked out. I ignored my light for about 1 month. Then I got it checked and found out the transmission was "shot". I had to get a new one. The prior owner did something with the tranny. The dealer was pissed off because I had an extended warranty and got the new one for free.

[Charlie Morgan]

Why would the dealer be unhappy? The warranty pays HIM to do the work.

CWM

[Edwin Pawlowski]

True, but usually at reduced rates. Not just cars, but any warranty work for many appliances and machines is usually break even.

[Steve B]

"Phisherman" wrote

Check Engine lights should not be ignored.

I just bought a Dodge pickup for $38,500. The check engine light came on at

7,500 miles. I checked the manual, and the manual says that the lights don't always mean that something is very wrong, or that you cannot continue to drive the car. In my case, it was a reminder to change the original oil, and the cars are programmed that way. I did learn how to reset the light, though. And if you reset the lights, and you have a problem other than just a reminder light, the light will continue to come on, indicting you need to take it in and get it read.

I'll be getting a reader and saving money. Plus, I have a mechanic that I trust, so he checks it for free, and fixes just what is wrong.

Steve

[Charlie Morgan]

Really depends on where you are. In some states, there are laws that warranty work must be paid at the same rate as "over the counter" repairs. In any event, warantee work is a major revenue stream for car dealers even at reduced rates. It's not anywhere near "break even". I worked for a company that's business was almost exclusively warranty repairs for consumer electronics. They made lots of money.

CWM

[Steve B]

I worked at a car dealership that could find at least $1,500 worth of warranty work on the first checkup whether it was there or not.

Know whut uh mean, Vern?

Steve

[Mark D]

Well, we've heard lots of opinions, and of course you know the old saying about anal passages, and everybody having one, etc.

None the less, and this is fact that no one can deny, or debate. Dealers nowadays have absolutely no scruples. They screw you to the tune of whatever price they feel like that day.

Evidently, in the original posters case, there sure couldn't have been much at all wrong to get out of the dealership with a $69 Bill, which probably was just a charge for 1 hour's labor.

No parts at all were needed, and as I previously said, what was most likely done, was the battery was disconnected for 30 seconds, and the "Service Engine Soon" light went off.

This is typical of GM ECM Computers.

Fact is, if you're running gas in your vehicle that was bought when Hurricane Katrina hit, don't figure your gas to have any real Octane left in it, and I'm gathering that this may have been the case with the OP. Shitty Gas will cause your DashService light to come on.

My ex-wife's 92 Town Car was like this, that anytime you disconnected the Battery, the Digital Display on the Dash would go awry.

First time the dealer soaked me $140, the second, $72, and at this visit, the Shop foremen let me in on a little tip, to just pull fuses #1, and #4 on the fuse block to clear the situation. It "only" cost me $212 to find out this little trick at the Freakin Ferd Dealer.

Granted, a "check engine Light" could be much more serious problems, but for those who lack any sort of mechanical expertise-knowledge, and/or are perhaps too lazy to pop the hood, and check basics, wel then the dealer is your only hope. Fact is, even if you owned a brand new Mercedes, this is no assurance that you're going to be trouble free. It's a fact of life with owning a motor vehicle. Mark

[Moe]

"Al" wrote

I didn't know plumbers would diagnose check engine lights. :o)

[DerbyDad03]

- Most of the major chain auto parts stores (AutoZone, Advance Auto, O'Reilly, etc) will read the "Check Engine"

- codes for you for FREE.

Unfortunately, you've worded that correctly. They will *read* the codes for free. AFAIK, they are no longer allowed to reset them. At least that's what the AutoZone's near me have told me. Maybe it's just that chain's policy....I haven't had to check a code since I donated my 97 Dodge. My Dodge would annoyingly report a 6th cylinder misfire after long (150+ miles) trips, so I would take it in every now and then to have the light reset. (No other symptoms, just the light) Sometime last year I was told they couldn't reset the light anymore, they could only tell people what was the code read.

I recently bought an 04 Honda and got their equivalent of the Check Engine Light at 24K, but it was just for the scheduled maintenance. How do I know? The owner's manual tells you how to reset the light via some buttons on the dashboard. So when the light comes on at the milage intervals listed in the book, I can reset it. If it doesn't come back on due a persistant fault, then it was just for the scheduled maintenance.

Before you ask, I should menti> > > I was really pissed today. I have a 2000 Chevy S10 pick up. I rarely

didn't know this before now, but at least you will the next time:

[Doug Miller]

AutoZone loans tools, including code scanners. You can get one of their loaner scanners, read the codes yourself, reset them if you wish, whatever.

[Steve Barker]

That's called "selling warranty" and Ford (the only one I know about) will kick a dealerships ass if they find out about it. If we had a car in the shop and found something wrong with it under warranty, we were to ignore it unless it was a safety issue. Just take care of what they came in for, was the rule.

Oh, and BTW, the warranty claims are where the dealerships make most of their money. Customer pay tickets are just a small portion of the shop work now days.

[Steve B]

"Mark D" wrote

Old dirty sign that's been at my mechanic's shop for twenty seven years that I know of:

"If it's got t*ts or wheels, sooner or later, you'll have problems."

[Steve B]

That particular dealership also had a used car side. One day, a buyer drove his new used car home. Soon after that, he just happened to meet the man who traded the car in. The two talked, and the buyer bragged about what a deal he got on a low mileage car. The previous owner advised him how many miles were actually on it when he traded it. The buyer and the trader went to the car lot, and had a pow wow with the managers. Shortly after that, the man picked up a new pickup with no payments.

The dealership was notorious in the town. Mainly on their service department and used car lot portions. Shortly after I left, the economy in the area went into the dumper when the oilfield was deregulated in 1980, the owner died, and the dealership changed hands.

I'm sure there are still a few around, though. I know there has been a lot of local TV on repair shop and quick oil change franchise ripoffs.

Steve

[volts500]

Well......you know the old saying.....if ya can't beat 'em, join 'em=20 (for about the price of two trips to the dealer):

[kellyj00]

Or, you could just be happy that it wasn't a big deal and that you're out $69.

if you wanna say that 'back in the day' engines were simpler so you could figure anything out yourself, that's true...but they all got

2/3rds (or less) of the gas mileage that we get now per cubic inch of displacement (ya, that's 2/3rds the efficiency for anyone who's counting) and they polluted a lot more... don't know how much, but I'm certain it's true.

If you don't like having to use a computer, then go buy a 60's volkswagon bug and drive it around, it gets the same mileage as a modern toyota corolla but pollutes more and has no features, like motorized windshield wipers, that come standard on the corolla.

Ya, muscle cars are great...but I wouldn't drive one to work everyday...besides, there have been so many other technological advances since the days of carburators that I really don't think the maintenance schedule allows for what we do to our cars now. 6000 miles between recommended oil changes, 100,000 miles for spark plugs and wires, differentials that last the life of the car without any grease change.

Sure they were built out of metal back then and were "tougher" cars. I don't see any of them on the streets in my neck of the woods...except for the ones restored and hot rodded.