topic Re: Car problems in Community Chat

Car problems

Emily Paige — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 00:40:34 GMT

Any auto mechanics out there?

My car won't start "unless"the check engine light comes on.

When the light comes on it starts right up.

Crazy!

Re: Car problems

Preds — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 00:42:26 GMT

You need to have it checked and it may be that they just need to ""adjust"" the sensor.

Re: Car problems

Bird mama — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 00:55:52 GMT

Emily, When I start my car, the check engine light is among the several that light up on the dash. I always thought the problem was if the check engine light stayed on after ignition.

Usually, if you try to start a car and there's a whole lotta clicking with no ignition - bad starter.

If there's a whole lotta grinding and churning, could be the battery or alternator.

Re: Car problems

Bird mama — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 01:02:17 GMT

May sound crazy, but check the gas cap. My DH's car passed to me when he died and I was not accustomed to driving a Camaro. I filled up the tank one day and later in the day I see the check engine light on and it's not going off. I panicked, ran to the dealer that always serviced the car and the tech tightened the gas cap and it didn't happen again.

No car is good if you don't feel secure or safe driving it, might be time for an appointment with a mechanic.

Re: Car problems

Buck-i-Nana — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 01:48:23 GMT

On 10/6/2014 Bird mama said:
Emily, When I start my car, the check engine light is among the several that light up on the dash. I always thought the problem was if the check engine light stayed on after ignition.

Usually, if you try to start a car and there's a whole lotta clicking with no ignition - bad starter.

If there's a whole lotta grinding and churning, could be the battery or alternator.

You've nailed it Bird mama.

OP, if your check engine light (and the other warning lights) are not coming on when you turn your key every time, then it sounds like perhaps you have a short somewhere in your ignition system. When you turn the key and the contact is made, the dash lights all light up momentarily and should then go out.

Re: Car problems

VanSleepy — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 01:55:51 GMT

Agree about the gas cap. When I first got my car and called about the check engine light, the first question was if I had gotten gas in the past few days. It still happens now and then. It's worth a try!

Re: Car problems

Buck-i-Nana — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 01:57:15 GMT

On 10/6/2014 VanSleepy said: Agree about the gas cap. When I first got my car and called about the check engine light, the first question was if I had gotten gas in the past few days. It still happens now and then. It's worth a try!

I know with my car, you have to turn the gas cap until you hear it click at least a couple of times or you don't have a complete seal.

Re: Car problems

VanSleepy — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 02:01:31 GMT

On 10/6/2014 Buck-i-Nana said:
On 10/6/2014 VanSleepy said: Agree about the gas cap. When I first got my car and called about the check engine light, the first question was if I had gotten gas in the past few days. It still happens now and then. It's worth a try!

I know with my car, you have to turn the gas cap until you hear it click at least a couple of times or you don't have a complete seal.

I'm in NJ and not allowed to pump my own gas! Thanks.

Re: Car problems

ROMARY — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 02:13:55 GMT

Some Ch*vrolets have been recalled lately because of ignition? maybe starter? problems. Check their recall list to make sure your car is or isn't on their list. Free repair for those recalled models/makes/etc.

Re: Car problems

OCGurl — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 05:15:05 GMT

My issue was gas cap too. My DH bought a new one & that fixed it.

Re: Car problems

Emily Paige — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 09:52:13 GMT

Thanks for all of the replies.

Got a new gas cap not to long ago.All the lights come on while starting except the check engine light.If it comes on with the rest of the lights the car starts.If it doesn't come on with the rest of the lights car won't start.

Had an oxygen sensor changed still no luck.

Re: Car problems

ID2 — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 10:36:15 GMT

On 10/7/2014 Emily Paige said:
Thanks for all of the replies.

Got a new gas cap not to long ago.All the lights come on while starting except the check engine light.If it comes on with the rest of the lights the car starts.If it doesn't come on with the rest of the lights car won't start.

Had an oxygen sensor changed still no luck.

Why go through the aggravation of not knowing what the problem is? Life is too short. Just take it in, walla...fixed!

Re: Car problems

nunya — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 15:00:33 GMT

Have the electronic control unit looked at. Sounds like it has a short or is bad.

Re: Car problems

Emily Paige — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 08:10:27 GMT

On 10/7/2014 ID2 said:
On 10/7/2014 Emily Paige said:
Thanks for all of the replies.

Got a new gas cap not to long ago.All the lights come on while starting except the check engine light.If it comes on with the rest of the lights the car starts.If it doesn't come on with the rest of the lights car won't start.

Had an oxygen sensor changed still no luck.

Why go through the aggravation of not knowing what the problem is? Life is too short. Just take it in, walla...fixed!

I did take it in!

Re: Car problems

foundinlv — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 09:46:38 GMT

The "check engine" light does not come on - When you switch the ignition ON before starting the car, the "Check engine" light is supposed to come on indicating that the engine computer is powered. If the "Check engine" light does not come on when you turn the ignition ON, it's possible that there is no power coming to the engine computer. It might be a broken wire or faulty relay or burnt fuse, etc.

Got the above from googling.

If your mechanic still can't repair your car I would take it to the service center at the dealer.

Re: Car problems

Emily Paige — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 10:04:59 GMT

Thanks for the replies.

It was a faulty chank sensor.Got it replaced starts right up!

Re: Car problems

Buck-i-Nana — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 15:35:04 GMT

On 10/10/2014 Emily Paige said:
Thanks for the replies.

It was a faulty chank sensor.Got it replaced starts right up!

Your mean crank sensor?

Re: Car problems

hckynut — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 16:54:02 GMT

On 10/10/2014 Emily Paige said:
Thanks for the replies.

It was a faulty chank sensor.Got it replaced starts right up!

Never heard of this and it sounds like a part that old "shade tree mechanics" used to sell to unknowing customers. It was called "the sky hook".

Don't know what you paid, but I suggest you go over to hsn and buy The Car MD. This electronic device is pretty much the same one used by dealership auto repair engineers(used to be called mechanics). One of my friends works for a GM Dealership and he has plugged this into several of our cars over the years to diagnose the problems.

"Chank sensor"?

All these electronic devices are now necessary because of the electronic technology of the engines and their components. Engines do not need all of this stuff to run correctly. It is just "stuff" to complicate and make it harder for any and everyone to work on them. Cars ran just find for many decades without needed a "sensor" to tell one the position of the "crankshaft/flywheel/camshaft" and I could go on an on and on.

All that is necessary is to have the "correct timing" so the spark plug fires and TDC(top dead center), which is the position of the piston during the "power stroke" of a 4 stroke engine. Enough about engines.

Glad you got it fixed, whatever it is, and hope you didn't get soaked for something you may not have even needed.

Re: Car problems

Emily Paige — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 01:36:46 GMT

Actually i do have that.It said it was an oxygen sensor.Replaced that first still no good.

replaced the crank sensor now it starts every time.

So who knows.

Thanks for your input though.

Re: Car problems

Emily Paige — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 01:39:16 GMT

Ya i didn't spell that right. Crank not chank. lol

Sorry