Thursday, June 01, 2006

!#$%&*!

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This came on, (or stayed on after I started the car, I'm not quite sure), yesterday as I was driving home from the train station:


I don't have time for this

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'98 Toyota Corolla, ~90K miles, no previous engine problems, very recent oil change.

Now what do I do?

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[Belated update: Took it to the dealer, who replaced the oxygen sensor. All better now!]

8 comments:

Beth said...

My check engine light came on recently too, and I only have 68k miles on it. I took it in for a diagnostic and basically an oxygen sensor has gone bad and needs to be replaced. Not a major deal, but needs to be taken care of. I wouldn't wait to get it checked/diagnosed, but you may be able to delay fixing the problem.

On another note - you asked if I was going to block The Clap? Probably not. This fabric has such an incredible drape - it's so fluie - that I don't think blocking would do anything for it. What do you think?

Suzanne said...

We had the same....and looked in the manual. It said to just reset it!

I would check the oil and then take it to a toyota guy. Maintaining your machine is a real pain but ya gotta do it (says the old car queen). Reapirs are always cheaper than a new machine (according to Click and Clack, who are also connesiours of the old machine.)

Sachi said...

Don't panic yet. It could be bad but it could be nothing.

This is what they call "planned obsolecense" (sp?) It comes on every so often so that you take it to the dealership for a check up (because no one else knows how to reset them). So you spend $50 on a diagnostic and they reset it for you. $50 for the priveledge of getting the peace of mind that your car will likely not die on you soon.

Robin said...

OH NO! With all the traveling you have been doing maybe your car feels neglected since you've been taking the train!? They do have the tendancy to get revenge! I NEVER take my vehicle to a car lot of I'm looking at trading...It'll do something like this!

maddie said...

maybe your gas cap isn't screwed on all the way? that's happened to me before...

seal said...

If you haven't figured it out yet, don't fret. I had the same freak out several years ago. I called the dealer and they told me to tighten the gas cap and drive around for a while. It should go off. If it doesn't, then you can take it in.

Mary said...

Well, I took it to the dealer today and they tell me it's the oxygen sensor. I hope that's really the case, and they're not bilking me when it was just a gas cap problem.

Kucki68 said...

Go to the repair service soon as that may be an expensive problem that will get worse with time.