Comments | loveschak: Useful tip if your "check engine" light is on

loveschak

Useful tip if your "check engine" light is on

Mar 21, 2009 18:47

Don't go to a garage, which will charge you $80-150 to diagnose it. Instead, go to Autozone, which will read the on-board computer's diagnostic code. Then, go to a repair shop if it's something that actually matters. This will save you money if it's something dumb like needing to tighten the fuel cap.

ETA: It looks like AAMCO thought of my idea for ( Read more... )

Comments 2

rose_garden March 22 2009, 04:06:38 UTC

Did this happen to you?

loveschak March 22 2009, 17:52:15 UTC

Not exactly. My light was on, so when I was at a Midas for a routine oil change, I asked the guy there to check it out. He told me it would be something like $90 for diagnosis. I gave him an incredulous look and told him to never mind. After getting an even worse quote from a Firestone, I did some poking around on the Internet and found the Autozone thing. I went to Autozone, and it turned out to be some horseshit with the engine thermostat that was probably a one-off thing. The coolant level was fine, so I'll get a new thermostat if the light comes back ( ... )