Check Engine Light on

**wartknight** · 04-09-2010, 09:02 AM

$75 just to diagnose. SOme places do this for free correct? Anyone know how that works? Can they diagnose and then I take my van somewhere else to get fixed? Assume that is frowned upon but Oh well.
Any suggestions?

**GeronimusClone** · 04-09-2010, 09:03 AM

Electrical tape over the light never fails me.

**huskerman** · 04-09-2010, 09:06 AM

yeah i just tell them that i should be back to buy the part or whatever and then leave and call around to find the best price for the part. advance auto parts does it for free.

**bos** · 04-09-2010, 09:06 AM

Use google. How old is the car? Make/model. At times it can just be a scheduled maint. reminder. Every manufact. does this differently.

**CycloneErik** · 04-09-2010, 09:07 AM

Can you remove the bulb?

**nj829** · 04-09-2010, 09:10 AM

Unplug the battery might reset it. Auto Zone and O'Rielly does it for free as well I believe. It's quite a dealership racket they have going to charge $75 for checking it, but I think that is common at all of them.

**CyCy** · 04-09-2010, 09:11 AM

At one time Autozone would check for free - don't know if they still do.

**garn91** · 04-09-2010, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by wartknight

$75 just to diagnose. SOme places do this for free correct? Anyone know how that works? Can they diagnose and then I take my van somewhere else to get fixed? Assume that is frowned upon but Oh well.
Any suggestions?

You must not listen to Miller & Deace....AAMCO does it for free

**DaddyMac** · 04-09-2010, 09:14 AM

Aamco in Des Moines does (if you are around here).. I've had good luck with them in the past, saved me a bunch of money over dealer quotes (obviously) and didn't try to jack me for repairs I didn't need.

Last time I had a check engine on my truck, I took it to Simon Auto in Des Moines, they hit me for the $50 fee, then told me that my gas cap was loose.

Didn't know a loose gas cap could have such an affect

**BCforISU** · 04-09-2010, 09:15 AM

Originally Posted by wartknight

$75 just to diagnose. SOme places do this for free correct? Anyone know how that works? Can they diagnose and then I take my van somewhere else to get fixed? Assume that is frowned upon but Oh well.
Any suggestions?

Trade the van in for an SUV or something cool

Kidding aside, it is most likely some sort of sensor, damn things always cost a ton for what they are. I always went to entire car care in Ames, but that is a ways for you and I had a buddy there that helped me out. I am not sure where in Ankeny/Des Moines is good.

**BCforISU** · 04-09-2010, 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by nj829

Unplug the battery might reset it. Auto Zone and O'Rielly does it for free as well I believe. It's quite a dealership racket they have going to charge $75 for checking it, but I think that is common at all of them.

I was going to say this, but knowing Wartknight has kids and such, better check it out, if it was me I would undo the battery and hope that fixed it, usually just a temporary fix though. Those lights usually mean something on the newer vehicles, back in the 70's and 80's no one cared.

**Ames** · 04-09-2010, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by wartknight

$75 just to diagnose. SOme places do this for free correct? Anyone know how that works? Can they diagnose and then I take my van somewhere else to get fixed? Assume that is frowned upon but Oh well.
Any suggestions?

Most of the parts places do it for free. You can also buy a scanner at Walmart and read/clear your own codes. They aren't very expensive.

**Al_4_State** · 04-09-2010, 09:27 AM

I'm sitting at the mechanic's as I type this...

Google search to find out how to get your car to display the code. Usually if you turn your key on and off several times, the car will display on the odometer, or via a series of flashes of the engine light what code has been triggered. Once you have the code, you'll have a pretty good idea of what the problem is. Then take it in from that point.

**Cyclonestate78** · 04-09-2010, 09:30 AM

Originally Posted by DaddyMac

Aamco in Des Moines does (if you are around here).. I've had good luck with them in the past, saved me a bunch of money over dealer quotes (obviously) and didn't try to jack me for repairs I didn't need.

Last time I had a check engine on my truck, I took it to Simon Auto in Des Moines, they hit me for the $50 fee, then told me that my gas cap was loose.

Didn't know a loose gas cap could have such an affect

The identity of DaddyMac has been revealed after his pimping of Aamco....