A few months ago my check engine light came on. I took my car into Tuffy and had a diagnostic check done and they told me I need a new converter and O2 censors. I have yet to fix either of them. Recently my car has been acting weird when I am driving it. It starts off by my radio turning off and on. Then some of my lights on my dashboard will light up, like my ABS light and another light in the bottom left corner of my dash, along with my check engine light. Then my car will shut off and all of my dials will fall down to zero. Since my car is off, my steering wheel locks so I can only drift straight. Once I stop my car and put it in park, I am often able to restart it right up and continue driving. The problem won't happen again until maybe the next day. Also, sometimes when I get into my car at the store, after having just driven it to the store, it won't start up. I will try a couple times to start it, but I get no sound, not even a slight starting sound. My stereo still works so I figure it can't be my battery. Then after trying to start it a couple times, it finally starts up and I am able to drive away. I have no idea what the problem is, can anybody help me before I take it into the shop and take a chance of getting cheated???
2007-06-16 19:46:42 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Most likely you have an ECU (computer) problem. You could try and just get an replacement and hope for the best. But then again if you are having a problem with connection TO the computer that would be even more work. But I almost guarantee you that replacing the ECU is the first thing the dealer would do anyway, so you could do it yourself and save some $$ on labor.
I normally would not say this but this is one of the cases that a dealer should handle (other than just replacing the ECU yourself). If this is a re-occurring problem with their car, then they would know.
2007-06-16 20:22:13 · answer #1 · answered by Lover not a Fighter 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like it could be your fuel pump... However, driving that car sounds dangerous. Take it to a shop and get it checked. Some mechanics charge cheap just for taking a look at your car. Cheapest I've payed was 20 bucks for one mechanic. I say shop around or get a friend that knows automobile mechanics to come and check your car. In the long run it might be more expensive driving the car since you can get in a wreck endangering your life and health. Lets say you get stuck in a freeway and the car won't start then you'll have to tow it. That will run you at LEAST 100 bucks
2016-05-17 15:16:18 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like the ignition switch is probably going bad....not related to the converter and O2 problem. Call around to different shops and explain the problem to them and see how much they will charge to diagnose the problem....and ask them if it is the ignition switch at fault, how much would they charge to replace it. Check with friends neighbors, relatives, co-workers, AAA on where is a good shop to take it to.
This site has a lot of shops in some areas that are recommended by people...http://www.cartalk.com/content/mechx/
2007-06-17 01:44:23 · answer #3 · answered by paul h 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like there's an electrical problem with the car but you really need to get your car fixed, why didn't you get a new converter and O2 censors? Take that car to a garage immediately before you get into an accident.
2007-06-16 19:57:19 · answer #4 · answered by Maxine d 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you take it to the shop it would be best not to take it to tuffy.. it sounds electrical.. maybe this due to the ignition switch or the electrical system to fuel injection.. a relay could be cutting out.. to many possibilities to put here, and don't know how much you can do.. for a tech to fix this he would have to drive it.. it can also be a bad ground to any of these circuits... what kind of car is this...
2007-06-16 20:07:09 · answer #5 · answered by keith_19798@yahoo.com 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A catalytic converter won't shut your radio off. You need to get to a dealership. They will run a diagnostic check and pull whatever fault codes are stored in your computer. Then they can give you estimate of repairs.
2007-06-16 19:55:19 · answer #6 · answered by justme601000 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
DEALER!. They won`t cheat you, and the mechanics there all work on the same kind of car day after day, so they may have seen this before! It is worth the money because a non-dealer will only be guessing and that means you`ll have to pay, and pay, and they STILL might not get it right!
See the DEALER!!
2007-06-16 20:03:41 · answer #7 · answered by mdcbert 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately the only way to get this fixed is to take it somewhere reliable and spend some money. Tell them what the other shop said and that whatever it really is, it's probably electrical. Describe your symptoms specifically including noises.
2007-06-16 21:22:14 · answer #8 · answered by k 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like you have a short in your car's electrical system somewhere, possibly in the alternator itself. You should definitely take it to a reputible mechanic to have it checked out.
2007-06-16 19:57:28 · answer #9 · answered by jglawson80 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
loose or corroded electrical connection. most likely a ground wire,mostly because they are usually in unprotected parts of the car,collecting corrosion. or it could be as simple as a loose battery cable.all connections should be very tight,check all.
2007-06-17 05:09:52 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋