idle is off, check engine light
Being a girl, I must admit I'm not very good with the mechanics of a car. My 2000 Vehi-Cross has been idling very strangly and over the last week it keeps killing on me when I first start it up and then the check engine light comes on. I'm leary about taking it in knowing that the mechanics could tell me anything and I would have to believe them. It sounds like others have experienced this. Can you give me some advice on what to do?
Re: idle is off, check engine light
Quote:
Originally posted by dragonfly22design
Being a girl, I must admit I'm not very good with the mechanics of a car. My 2000 Vehi-Cross has been idling very strangly and over the last week it keeps killing on me when I first start it up and then the check engine light comes on. I'm leary about taking it in knowing that the mechanics could tell me anything and I would have to believe them. It sounds like others have experienced this. Can you give me some advice on what to do?
It could be a bunch of things..the crew here will be better with those specifics than i could be.. but i will say, if you take it to the shop, DONT let them intimidate you. ask to see printouts of the trouble codes, tell them you want to inspect any "old" parts they replace, including hoses and such, etc.. make them justify any work they perform and
ask for specifics... If their on the ball, none of this should be a problem for any good shop... if not, pull the vehicle out and take it someplace else..it may cost a bit more, but far less in the long run..but if they do a good job, buy the mechanics a pizza or something..good ones are hard to find, theyll appreciate it...and remember you for it in the future if you need them again..
good luck!!
Re: idle is off, check engine light
Quote:
Originally posted by dragonfly22design
Being a girl, I must admit I'm not very good with the mechanics of a car. My 2000 Vehi-Cross has been idling very strangly and over the last week it keeps killing on me when I first start it up and then the check engine light comes on. I'm leary about taking it in knowing that the mechanics could tell me anything and I would have to believe them. It sounds like others have experienced this. Can you give me some advice on what to do?
This problem sounds like a vacuum leak. Have a friend help you check all of the small rubber hoses connected to the intake manifold. Pull the plastic cover up and it will come loose. then check each end of the hoses for cracks, splitting or being disconnected. Pull one end off at a time check it and if good put it back on before going to the next one. that way you won't miss one.
FF
Re: idle is off, check engine light
Quote:
Originally posted by dragonfly22design
Being a girl, I must admit I'm not very good with the mechanics of a car. ........ Can you give me some advice on what to do?
Story: My better half drives Rodeo and some time ago she needed some paint job on it, so I took it to cople of shops for quote, both quotes were in $1200 range. She deemed that to be too high estimate and decided to take over the issue. She dressed up to kill and estimate she got was $400. With me being a guy I failed misserably did'nt I LOL. Anyway Maverick is righ with his advice.
On technical end a good way to detect leaks is to to use piece of rubber tubing (stetoscope will not work) with one end held to the ear and other scanning around potential leak points. If there is a leak it is very audible.
VX922
