QuestionQUESTION: Driving on the Freeway my car lost power...slowed down and the heating
gauge went to the H hot signal..Then, the engine light came on and
it has not gone out after adding more Antifreeze.
I looked into the manual...it said the engine light staying on mean
the Catalsyte Converter is bad....
Help! Thanks
ANSWER: Hi Jan,
The engine light really means that something affecting the air emissions from the engine has deteriorated and needs attention. That could be one of many things or possibly the catalytic converter, so don't jump to that conclusion yet. You didn't mention the year, model, and engine so I can't tell you what to do next about finding out exactly what is wrong. There is a fault code recorded in the engine computer, but I need to know the year of your car to tell you how to read out the code which will tell where to look to correct the situation. But use the "thank and rate" tab, in its section for comments, to tell me more specific information about the car and we'll go on from there.
Roland
Since you car is an '01 model it may give you a readout of the fault code numbers by means of the ignition key: "on-off-on-off-on and leave on" doing that in 5 seconds or less elapsed time. Then watch the odometer window of the speedo to see if the mileage changes to show any 4-digit numbers. If so tell me what they are. If that doesn't work then a readout with a fault code reader that plugs into a socket under the dash is needed. That you can get often for free at a Autozone parts store. So ask there for the numbers and then let me know. If there isn't such a store near you then go to an independent garage that will do the readout for around $40. We'll go on from there once you have some fault codes to report. Also let me know which engine is in the car, and also I assume the LXI is a sedan style, not a convertible, correct?
Roland
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi Roland,
My 2001 Chrysler Sebring LXi, Automatic, Convertible has a 2.7 L Engine-6
Cylinder with 2 WD. Sorry I did add this information. I will try the on-off-
on-on tonight.
If I have to drive it to the Autozone...will it be ok..I'm afraid I might make it
worse since it's a few miles away? Is it safe?
AnswerHi Jan,
It should be safe if you have sufficient coolant in the system, and so just carry along a container of 50/50 coolant and don't let the system stay on H without stopping and allow it to cool off. Add coolant only after it cools down, for personal safety. I assume that you were able to get home without it overheating the first time.
I'll await your codes. By the way, my brother just told me that an Autozone in LA said they don't do readouts for free any longer, so check with them before you go to the trouble of driving over.
Roland
