QuestionI would be extremely grateful if you could help me out with a particular situation that seems to have arisen lately.
Two days ago, on Thursday the 26th, I was driving home from school when I noticed my 1995 Chevrolet Blazer (I believe it's an S-10) starting to shudder and shake. It also hesitated a bit whenever I applied the brakes to it. I started to drive it to the dealership so they could tell me what was wrong with it and was about three miles away when I noticed the "Service Engine Soon" light come on. I started panicking, naturally, but kept on driving. Thankfully, I made it there intact, and after one of the service technicians did a cursory inspection of the vehicle, the guy verified that I indeed needed to have the vehicle serviced.
Well, yesterday, after a few phone calls and misdiagnoses, the guy deduced that all that needed to happen was that the EGR filter needed to be cleaned out. Naturally (or not), I was charged about $250 to have the EGR filter cleaned out, but in the end I felt happy that they had figured out what was wrong and confident that I would get a problem-free vehicle back.
I just came back from picking up the vehicle and driving it home (today was the first chance I had to get a ride to the dealership). At first, things went by smoothly and I was overjoyed. Then I noticed the vehicle start shuddering a bit, then hestitating a bit, and then about two blocks away from home I saw the "Service Engine Soon" light turn on again. I panicked again and worried as I pulled the vehicle into the garage. When I got out of the vehicle, I noticed the air smelled a little smokey, as if a tiny amount of rubber was burning.
If you could, could you tell me what might be going on with the vehicle? I've tried to read the owner's manual to figure out what the problem might be, but seeing as though it will basically either say "your oil's of poor quality" (I just filled it with Pennzoil [5W-30, like how it says on the owner's manual], though), "your fuel's of poor quality" (I last filled up at Exxon, though), or "take it to the dealer to figure out what's wrong" (that's not been too helpful, apparently). Please help me out!
AnswerDiane,
With a service engine soon check lite on the vehicle the computer is telling you that you have a problem with the emission control system. The vehicle is equipped with sensors from a 02 sensor, maf sensor, tps sensor, ect ect. Once one of these sensors go bad, the lite will come on. And the only way to find out what the problem is you need the vehicle scanned on a diagnostic computer at your local garage. Once this happens this will tell the mechanic which sensor is bad. This service will cost you about $60.00 just to find out what the problem is. If you dont have this done and start changing sensors, it will be a very costly expense. Sensors are not cheap, and vehicles are equipped with egr valves, they dont have filters. So what ever this guy did, or cleaned, doesnt seem right to me. Once a egr valve goes bad, they need to be changed. You can drive the vehicle with the lite on, but it will still need service. As for the rubber burning, thats really hard to say, unless you pop the hood let the engine idle, and see where the smoke is coming from. If you have any further questions, and cant get me here, you can reach me at Bond_007_1@hotmail.com. Fee free to get a hold of me.. Thanks...
