Social Media

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Car Repair

For the better part of the last 2-3 years, my check engine light has been coming on intermittently. Now, it is becoming more and more steady. Which means it is becoming easier to get it diagnosed. The problem in the past, when I would get the car in to have it checked, the light would go out, translating into them not being able to get a reading.

Today, I took it by Advanced Auto and got it hooked up to the hand held computer for free. Once I got the diagnoses, I was able to start calling around to get prices. One place wanted to charge me over $200 plus tax to replace the front oxygen sensor. Another place, said they needed to know what type of engine my car had and then hung up on me before I could respond. Finally, I called the Chevrolet dealer and they told me it would be $125 plus tax. So that is where I am heading.


****update: When I arrived, the same person who gave me the quote made the call to get the price for the part and there was about a $50 difference between the price the computer gave him and what the parts place told him. That means the repair is now $175 plus tax at the dealer. I will have to wait until next Wednesday to have the cash to get the repair. Oh well so be it. Still I will get it done. It's just that I am about $40 short at the moment. *****

---
go ahead share your thoughts with me now, my ears are open. I'm always eager to hear what you think.
-----
follow me on Twitter



Posted by Kevin Surbaugh at 9/23/2009 01:12:00 PM
Reactions: 

7 comments:

  1. Argh, Kevin! It could be worse... I fried two oxygen sensors (out of four) and a mass airflow sensor this year. $750. Ow.

    Get it fixed, so the others don't fail!
    ReplyDelete
  2. That's what you guys get for driving american cars!
    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm following your blog because I'm also having some financial problems right now. I dread the day something happens to my car. It would break me.
    ReplyDelete
  4. Take a look at it and see if it is possible to do yourself. I have done many before and not that hard, if you have tools and place to do it.
    ReplyDelete
  5. I agree with what Michael said, as it is not hard to replace oxygen sensors.

    I have had a lot of experience with oxygen sensors. I only hope that your Check Engine light goes off, and stays off.

    See, there are many things that can happen with a vehicle to cause the particular code that says it is the oxygen sensor.

    One time, after replacing said oxygen sensor, I learned that the Distributor Assembly was bad. That was quite expensive.

    Another tiime, after replacing said oxygen sensor on a different vehicle, I learned that my head gaskets were bad. That was a $1500 bill.

    As for Anonymous and the crack about American cars, if Anonymous should come back and read my comment here, I got one thing to say: BOTH vehicles with these awful problems were TOYOTA's!

    Oxygen sensors run about $100 for Toyota's. I do not know what they cost for American cars.

    After replacing the sensor, make sure to disconnect your battery completely for a few minutes, then reconnect. This will clear the cars computer of the codes.

    If your Check Engine light comes on again, take it to Auto Zone. They will retrieve the code out of the computer for free, even if your Check Engine light has gone off.

    Then go to the internet, look up the code for your car.

    I hope you don't have to go through this experience of Check Engine light again.
    ReplyDelete
  6. You must look like a soft touch. If someone quoted a price over the phone to me, and then tried to charge a higher price when I arrived I'd have pointed out that 'bait and switch' is a well-known scam used by unethical dealers. And I'd have asked for the original, quoted price to be honoured or else I would a) take my business elsewhere, b) make a complaint to consumer affairs, c) write a letter of complaint to the owner of the dealership and forward a copy to the head office...

    I'd expect to end up paying the quoted price 9 times out of ten ;)

    ps. If that price was just for the part, wait till you see the hourly rate charged for having it installed! (unless you're going to DIY).
    ReplyDelete
  7. What a nice blog you have..thanks for all this information
    ReplyDelete

We encourage comments from anyone whether they agree or disagree however, opinions that are derogatory, attack other users, offer unsubstantiated facts or are offensive in nature can and will be removed. We are not responsible for the content posted in this comment section. Obvious spam will not be approved!

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Search our Site

Google