Check engine light appearing prior to the warranty expiring?

Question

I own a 2004 Pontiac Sunfire sedan with a 4 speed automatic transmission and a 2.2L engine. The warranty was the standard 5 years or 100,000 kilometers when I purchased it brand new. I have always had regular maintainence preformed on this vehicle. With the exception of the gas cap occasionally causing it, I have never had the check engine light appear. At precisely 99,000 kilometers the check engine light appeared and will not go out. Pure coincidence?? Or has GM cleverly created a way to get people with soon-to-be-expired warranties on their vehicles to bring them in, so they can pitch the extended warranty and make an easy $1,000+??

Answer 1

OMG morons. Why do morons keep answering these questions?

You absolutely MUST take the car to a DEALER immediately. DO NOT take it to autozone.

The reason is because while the car is still under warranty you can not only get the defective part replaced for free, but even if they claim not to find anything wrong then you have record of making a warranty claim which is good for exactly one year even after the warranty expires. Therefore, if you find 2 months later the check engine light comes on for same problem (either due to another failed part or, more likely, due to misdiagnosis of first problem) you still have warranty coverage for that part as long as you made your initial claim within the warranty period.

The timing btw is not a devised plan for GM to sucker you, although I do imagine they'll pitch an extended warranty. You won't need it though as far as for whatever is currently causing the CEL.

Going to autozone for diagnosis or some other place to get part replaced will exempt you from any of my advice.

Answer 2

I have a chevy (GM) and I purchased the extended warranty (5years/100,000 miles) and the head gasket AND intake gasket went at about 60,000 miles and I took it to the dealer where I bought the car and they replaced it for nothing, because it was covered under the warranty. Look at your warranty agreement and call the dealer and get it in to get looked at. Chances are it is something minor, but if it is something major, get it in while it is still under warranty.

Answer 3

It is most likely a censor of some sort. If you live in the US you can go to your local auto zone store or local auto parts store and they can run a test to see which censor is bad.
Do not go over your warranty if you can keep from it. In case it is something major.

Answer 4

not the GM,the mechanics in the dealer and the dealer.
see if You have something un plug