Car Help

[BooBoo*TheKiddo*]

Hopefully this makes sense....

Do you know how you can take a car to a garage to be fixed and they hook it up to a computer machine thingy, and it tells them everything that is wrong with the car or something...

Does anyone know if it is possible to get a similiar machine that you can use at home?

 

[addictedtochins]

You can get this done free at many auto part stores, call and ask. And yes I'm sure you can but it wouldn't be cheap.

 

[Stackie]

AutoZone does it for free. You can buy them, my boyfriend has one, but I'm not sure how much it cost.

 

[LizNicole]

Go into an auto parts store.. Around here its about $90 bucks to have a diagnostic done via computer on your car in a shop.

 

[GorillaJTA]

Most auto parts stores will do it for free (if the car is newer than 1995), but you can buy them at auto parts stores from around 30-60 bucks.

 

[sheltiefan]

most auto part store does it for free. But you can buy them but they are pricey.

 

[StevieP]

I thought I'd add that the computer thingys will tell you what is wrong if the check engine light is on. If your car won't start or something and there is no code, the code reader probably won't help.

So what's wrong with your ride?

If it is a dodge there is usually a way to retrieve the code without a code reader.

 

[Ash]

It's a scanner, there are many different kinds, and you can get them for home, but they are pricey. We've got 2-3 here at the house... Keith and his dad are both mechanics by profession.

 

[BooBoo*TheKiddo*]

I thought I'd add that the computer thingys will tell you what is wrong if the check engine light is on. If your car won't start or something and there is no code, the code reader probably won't help.

So what's wrong with your ride?

If it is a dodge there is usually a way to retrieve the code without a code reader.

My car keeps stalling. Mechanics here don't want to work on it because it is a firebird. They said it cost them more in the long run to work on them due to the way the engine is built or something.
One told my dad to check the gas in the tank and the gas line. He did. There was water in the gas so he dumped it and changed the fuel filter (on the gas line). Did fine for a day or two and started again. I stopped buying gas where I was and started buying it elsewhere. (Easy to determine which gas station you got the watered gas from if you ONLY stop at one station.)

Now, the mechanic told my dad he might have to change the fuel injectors or the water pump. (not sure what the water pump has to do with it).
Called for prices today...turns out, the fuel injectors are gonna cost roughly $95 EACH

 

[Ash]

Manual or auto transmission? What year, engine size? I'll say something to Keith when he jumps out of the shower and see if he has any suggestions.

 

[BooBoo*TheKiddo*]

Automatic, 1997, V8 (5.7)

Thanks Ash! =)


I'll mention to Daddy in the morning that autozone put them on the computer for free and see if he will take it to one. The closet 2 are south of me in Tennessee, or an hour north of me.

 

[Ash]

Keith said buy a bottle of fuel treatment or water/gas separator, use that. There's no point in changing the fuel injectors, according to him, and they(the cars) are a PITA to work on because it's an LT1?(mechanic talk, idk)... he doubts that the water came from where you bought the gas. If it keeps stalling after that, the fuel PUMP may need to be replaced because the water may have ruined the veins in the fuel pump.

 

[StevieP]

So there is or is not a check engine light on?

 

[BooBoo*TheKiddo*]

I will tell Daddy all of that in the am when he crawls out of bed. =)

Assumed it came from the gas station, heard bad things about that station from numerous people. Either way, won't go back. Shouldn't have to wait (when they aren't busy and can see them looking out the window. Duh, I'm sitting by the pumps because I need gas, do you need a billboard. lol sorry done ranting) or do it myself at a full service station.

Fuel pump...that might have been what he said. I don't remember. I will mention it to daddy.

Thanks to you and Keith =)

 

[GorillaJTA]

Without a check engine light, my first thoughts for stalling would be the fuel pump (if it happens when you are accelerating), the fuel filter (which you said you checked), or one of the various sensors (oxygen, air flow, etc which usually throw a code).

My truck is currently in the shop having the fuel pump replaced, and since yours is a late model GM, the fuel pump is probably in the gas tank, which is not something that can be easily (or usually cheaply) repaired.


Do you have an O'Reilly's or Advanced or anything like that nearby?

 

[ticklechin]

The fuel pump on this is a PITA to change, the rear end of the vehicle has to be dropped down since the gas tank (where the fuel pump is located) straddles the rear end and the cost to repair gets close to the value of the car in many cases.