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"Check Engine" light is maddening . . . . .
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Spark Plug
New User
May 16, 2011, 12:04 PM
Post #1 of 2
(1595 views)
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"Check Engine" light is maddening . . . . .
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My car is a Chrysler 300 of 2005, with the large V-6. It has 54000 miles on it, and has all required maintenance done by the dealer-- on time.
My car has been in the Chrysler dealer repair shop several times since March, much of it involving the "check engine" light. Back in mid-April, the check-engine light went on. Trying to be a good owner, I took it to the dealer. They kept it four days, and finally used two solvents to free what they claimed were dirty valves. One solvent went into the engine and one went into the gasoline.
They returned the car with the "check engine" light still on, but said they were confident it would go off soon. It appears the solvent requires time to free the valves.
One week after getting my car back, the "check engine" light went off. I was very happy about it. Alas, one week farther down the road, the check engine light went back on again. I drove the car for about five days with the light on. Now this morning the check engine light went OUT again.
All this time, whether the light has been on or off, the engine has been running totally smooth, and just purrs like a kitten. It idles like a Swiss watch. It has plenty of power.
I posted something about this much earlier, before the on and off and on and off business, and some suggested the car needed a good run on the Interstate to clear out carbon. In the last two weeks, I have taken it out and run it at 70 for about an hour, just hoping to clean out the carbon. So the on-and-off light may not relate to that.
At this point, I am very reluctant to take the car back to the dealer, whether the check engine light is on OR off. Because regardless of what they do, it is very possible that in a few days it will go off or on again. And I have major concerns that they honestly have no clue what is wrong. Otherwise, I don't think I would have gotten the car back with the light still on, plus a $450 bill.
I have little confidence in the Chrysler garage. Another independent garage that seems well equipped has offered to check my car for the trouble codes, and promised they could give me some preliminary diagnosis for less than $100. I am thinking of taking them up on that.
Even so, every time I take the car to Chrysler they rack up another $400 or $500 in charges, and -- if you recall -- the last time they returned the car to me, the check-engine light was still on.
Sorry to come back again with my problem, but there's more information now, and it truly is making me crazy. I am tempted to just disregard the screwy light and keep driving it until either my ears -- or engine performance -- would suggest a REAL problem. This is like chasing ghosts.
Thanks in advance for any comments--
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 16, 2011, 12:21 PM
Post #2 of 2
(1585 views)
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Re: "Check Engine" light is maddening . . . . .
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The "check engine" light is an indicator for a system that monitors many electronic functions in the system, also called the "malfunction indicator lamp" (MIL). It can come on for any of hundreds of different causes from any of the systems that the computer monitors. Some are very important and can lead to further component or engine damage and some are emissions related not as serious but still a problem and need to be repaired.
You could have an entirely different issue not but your not going to know until someone pulls the codes does some diagnosis.
You would need to post the exact code number for us to be any further help.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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