Service engine light
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
From: MD
Service engine light
Hi all I had my service engine light come on the first week I bought
my 96 CE corvette about a year and a half ago.
I bought it froma used car lot not a chevy dealer.
I took it back and they supposedly fixed it. They claimed it was a bad ground they never said on what.That worked for about 6 months or so then it came back on I then took it to a local Chevy dealer they replaced the purge Solenoid $223.00 that lasted 1 day I took it back and they claimed it was a lose connection on the Solenoid that lasted about 1 week the light came back on but it went out 2 days later so I left it alone
Then last week the light came back on again I took it in to the same dealer and they claimed it was the PCM and it shorted out they replaced it and reprogrammed it and it cost $415.17 and so far (3 days) it seems fine.
In all that time the car didn't seem to run bad or anything other then at a Idle it seemed to surge a little bit it seems ok now.
my questions are has anyone had these problems? Does it seems like good fixes or are they a bunch of dummy's and they are just trying hit and miss and replacing stuff as they go without really knowing what they are doing
? When it comes to the computer stuff on these new cars I'm totally lost...
thanks
Clayton
my 96 CE corvette about a year and a half ago.
I bought it froma used car lot not a chevy dealer.
I took it back and they supposedly fixed it. They claimed it was a bad ground they never said on what.That worked for about 6 months or so then it came back on I then took it to a local Chevy dealer they replaced the purge Solenoid $223.00 that lasted 1 day I took it back and they claimed it was a lose connection on the Solenoid that lasted about 1 week the light came back on but it went out 2 days later so I left it alone
Then last week the light came back on again I took it in to the same dealer and they claimed it was the PCM and it shorted out they replaced it and reprogrammed it and it cost $415.17 and so far (3 days) it seems fine.
In all that time the car didn't seem to run bad or anything other then at a Idle it seemed to surge a little bit it seems ok now.
my questions are has anyone had these problems? Does it seems like good fixes or are they a bunch of dummy's and they are just trying hit and miss and replacing stuff as they go without really knowing what they are doing
? When it comes to the computer stuff on these new cars I'm totally lost...thanks
Clayton
Last edited by clay69; Sep 28, 2008 at 06:40 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 117
Likes: 1
From: Acworth Ga
Ouch! $638.15 so far?
Trust a dealer? 
Ususlly there is a problem with the emmissions on the car when the light comes on. Loose connections sounds a little vague to me but it could happen. There are several auto parts stores will hook up a scanner for free to check it out but I have never had this done. You can also short out 2 terminals in the connection port and watch the light flash at you which will give you a code that tells you the problem. Personnally I never go to the dealer but I have an advantage as I am mechanically inclined. To me dealers plug and try parts until the problem is solved, maybe. If the light come on again try the auto parts store method. They seem to be more honest with the problem. Also for better understanding go to the library and check out a few books on the subject. The internet has a wealth of information as well. Good luck.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 252
Likes: 2
From: lancaster pa
Next time you have a problem try to retrieve your'e codes from the display on the dash.There are alot of good guy's here that can sometimes help you fix it with just the codes,save you some $.
and save a trip to the dealer
and save a trip to the dealer
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
From: MD
Yep that's what I'm afraid of..
I just retired as a mechanic over 30 years experience but that was on mostly heavy equipment and big trucks I have always worked on my own stuff like my bikes and my 57 chevy and all the other stuff.
I can do just about every thing else engines brake etc etc.
It's just that I have no experience with the computer stuff on today's new cars.. I just hope they got it fixed this time for good
thanks all.
I'm leaving tomorrow from Baltimore MD to New Mexico on a trip site seeing I hope its all fixed now..
I just retired as a mechanic over 30 years experience but that was on mostly heavy equipment and big trucks I have always worked on my own stuff like my bikes and my 57 chevy and all the other stuff.
I can do just about every thing else engines brake etc etc.
It's just that I have no experience with the computer stuff on today's new cars.. I just hope they got it fixed this time for good
thanks all.
I'm leaving tomorrow from Baltimore MD to New Mexico on a trip site seeing I hope its all fixed now..
Last edited by clay69; Sep 28, 2008 at 12:16 PM.
