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Thread: Service engine soon. What the hell?

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    Featured Member Fawn's Avatar
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    Default Service engine soon. What the hell?

    So, I've got an '01 nissan, with about 99,150 miles on it and it's been shaking when I start it up for several months. Actually, it only shakes sometimes. I've taken it for diagnostics tests 2 times and both came up with nothing. One guy told me that probably the engine was just cold. Anyway, now my service engine soon light just popped up and I'm wondering if I can even drive it to work tomarrow and wait 'till saturday to hav eit looked at. This is so not cool! What does an engine service usually entail? Is it going to be costely, and would I be better off just getting a newer car? Oh, and anyone know of a good mechanic in austin?
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    Veteran Member SweetMelissa's Avatar
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    Default Re: Service engine soon. What the hell?

    Eeek..reminds me of my mom's car that she gave to me which ended up dieing a few months later. I think it was about the same age as your car but with more miles on it.

    It shook near the end of its life which scared me so bad. Every time I'd start it up I'd glance at my man and wait for his approval to drive it on the public roads. He checked everything and couldn't find anything major except one thing I think but I forget what it was because I know nothing about cars. I do remember him saying it'd cost more to fix the car than to get a new one so we just drove it until its last day.

    Hopefully your car is fine though. I'd have someone look at it as soon as possible just in case to be safe.

    Oh, here's a site I just quickly looked up with some answers...

    http://wiki.answers.com/Q/FAQ/482

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    Default Re: Service engine soon. What the hell?

    the 'check engine' light is programmed to come on for all sorts of reasons. On Subarus it will even come on if the gas tank cap is loose ! Generally if you get the 'check engine' light but the engine still seems to be running fine it means that an oxygen sensor, vacuum sensor, exhaust gas sensor some other sensor has crapped out and is sending 'bogus' information to the car's computer. This typically isn't dangerous in any way - but it can be an ass-pain to track down,

  4. #4
    Kaylinn
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    Default Re: Service engine soon. What the hell?

    They can run a diagnostic to see if somethign needs serviced or if it;s just a broke sensor. I * think* the diagnostic testis either free or cheap...because they hope somethign is wrong and they will get your money by them fixing iit.

    But...I wonder if the check engine light came on because you have 99,150 miles. The car might be programmed for service at 100,000 miles, so the ligh is on telling you it's time for service.

    Or

    Maybe it's tme for an oil change?
    My check engine light comes on when it's time for an oil change.


    Like Melanie said..many reasons why they come on. it don't mean somethign wrong with the engine. Just gotta go to o a car place and ask for a diagnostic.

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    Default Re: Service engine soon. What the hell?

    it could have something to do with emissions. Ironically, my check engine light just came on too last week. After dumping hundreds into fixing my brakes, and having my transmission checked out, I don't think I even give a shit anymore though.


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    Default Re: Service engine soon. What the hell?

    ...just to confirm what others have said, there are three possibilities, imo.

    1) Just like many cars made since about 1997, the manufacturer has programmed the light to come on every 5,000 miles (number varies by manufacturer, mine comes on around each 8,000 i think) hoping you'll take it in to the dealer where they will charge you about $35 to turn it off and talk you into buying other not needed service items. For many brand of cars, to turn off the light, get in the car, push down the trip odometer button on the dash and dont stop pushing, start the car while still holding down the button, after about 10 seconds the light should go out and you can then stop pushing the button. Turn off the car and restart to make sure the light is off. Autozone or a mechanic should be able to turn it off too. It's not harmful to your car if this is the reason the light comes on.

    2) As previously mentioned, the cars computer is telling you that one of the various computer emission checks is falling. After 99,000 miles, it could be a bad sensor failing or good sensor showing a failing emissions part or a even old gas cap all of which affect the emission checks when the car is started. I had both issues come up on my car. You can go to shop like AutoZone and they will check the code for free to see if it is a sensor turning on the light. You could turn off the light as mentioned in step 1 above but the light would come back on in a day or two due to the sensor. It's not harmful to your car if this is the reason the light comes on but you wont pass inspection the next time around.

    3) It's something mechanically serious and it needs to be fixed. Yep, this could be harmful to your car if you keep driving it.
    Last edited by WiseGuy_TX; 11-09-2007 at 06:51 AM.
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    Default Re: Service engine soon. What the hell?

    I've driven many times with lights on. The only emergency is if your gas light is on. Obviously you want to get it checked out, but the car shouldn't just break on you if previous diagnostics came out ok. Even if you get an oil light or something it's not good for the car to drive in that condition, but it's not the end of the world. Just take care of it ASAP.

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    Default Re: Service engine soon. What the hell?

    If you take the car to a Pep Boys or Auto Zone the will usually hook a scanner up free of charge to give you the trouble code stored in the computer memory. Some are more serious than others!

    If you can get the code from a auto zone and post it here, or PM me with it I can PM you a break down of what the causes may possible be, so you ca be better informed when you go to a shop and have ot fixed, so you dont get taken advantage of.
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    Default Re: Service engine soon. What the hell?

    ^ Yeah, even NAPA will hook up their computer and tell you what the error code is. Then you can google it and see what needs to be done



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    Default Re: Service engine soon. What the hell?

    Does it stop shaking once you get going? When you accelarate from a stop does the engine skip at all?

    It could be water in your gas tank. It wouldn't hurt to go to NAPA or Auto Zone and get some fuel cleaner. http://www.autozone.com/selectedZip,.../selectZip.htm

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    Default Re: Service engine soon. What the hell?

    Quote Originally Posted by Fawn View Post
    Actually, it only shakes sometimes. I've taken it for diagnostics tests 2 times and both came up with nothing. One guy told me that probably the engine was just cold.
    When the weather is cold and/or damp, spark plug cables are more likely to crossfire (current in one gets into another). That will trigger a code, and any consistently repeating code will turn on the Service Engine Soon light. A running engine creates its own warm, dry environment, so the shaking stops.

    Install new spark plug wires (one at a time), use conductive grease at the connections, add plastic cable separators, and you should be good for another 2-3 years. That's the fix for this symptom 80% of the time.

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    Featured Member Fawn's Avatar
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    Default Re: Service engine soon. What the hell?

    Quote Originally Posted by greenidlady1 View Post
    Does it stop shaking once you get going? When you accelarate from a stop does the engine skip at all?

    It could be water in your gas tank. It wouldn't hurt to go to NAPA or Auto Zone and get some fuel cleaner. http://www.autozone.com/selectedZip,.../selectZip.htm

    Yep, it stops after I hit the gas and doesn't do it again untill it's been sitting parked for a few hours. I'm going to have it looked at quickly before I go to work. Hopefully when he said 10 min it'll really be 10 min. I'll go early just in case.
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