Ever Tried Solving Your Own Vehicle Engine Problems?

Today, I wouldn't even think of touching anything under the hood, that is electronic and/or related to the onboard computer. I will ad oil, windshield wiper fluid, antifreeze, change air filter or a brake light, but that is primarily it. Mess up the computer and things could get very messy.

Years ago, I would do more, like change an alternator or generator, fan belt, plugs, starter or do oil change, but that's it. But, brake jobs and things dealing with the inside of the engine, I'd have to leave to a qualified mechanic. However, I did get lucky once and take the carburetor off of my vehicle, had it refurbished and I put it back on. The engine started and I adjusted the carb myself.

Has your engine light ever came on? Do you have a Code Reader? Did you fix, or have fixed, whatever the Code/Codes said were wrong? Have you ever bought a new/rebuilt PCM (Powertrain Computer Module) for you vehicle? Did you put it in or have a mechanic do it. There are those that will, with a Code Reader, erase the codes, so the engine light will go off. But, they don't get whatever is to be fixed, listed in the codes, fixed.

Our engine light came on, again, this past weekend. I think, and note the word "think", the problem is our PCM aka Powertrain Computer Module. Multiple codes showed up, which can happen with a defective PCM. We had the original one replace with a rebuilt one last July, but...........

 

I do have a code reader, but my old truck is too old to use it. I works on my wife's car but so far have not had a need. I got the reader for a truck I no longer have. I have struggles to do necessary repairs, but now I have a son who is a professional mechanic, so, unless it is an emergency, I leave the difficult things for him. I hate mechanicking and plumbing.

 

My husband does some minor mechanics and he does have a code reader. We haven't had any mechanical issues with our vehicles so we just do maintenance upkeep.

 

my handyman is a pretty good mechanic. He fixes our tractors and almost anything with wheels.
When my dashboard lights go on, I figure my gas cap is loose.
I tried to buy starter fluid at a convenience store and I was looked at, as if I had two heads.
I said, "You know, Starter Fluid?" "You spray it into the butterfly in the carburetor." He said, "Lady, they stopped making carburetors in 1986!"
I don't DO computers.

 

We've had AAA since 2004 and have used them for flat tire on side of freeway, towing and dead battery. An added part of our AAA membership will also help us with our boat trailer tires. For the yearly cost of them, very, very handy. We also have a AAA credit card.

 

So the "computer" is still much feared after it's running our engines for over 30 years now! And yet, we unhesitatingly fool with them at home on the table!

The old carburetor vaporized fuel so it could burn; liquid fuel does NOT burn. The computer does the exact same thing! However, to secure more economical use of the fuel and to reduce unwanted exhaust emissions, it goes a step further. The computer constantly "looks at" inputs coming from a series of "sensors", evaluates them, then turns tiny fuel injectors on and off, which admit fuel to the engine's cylinders, one injector per cylinder. The injectors are computer "outputs". The sensors are "computer inputs"; thus the computer is a CENTRAL PROCESSOR UNIT between inputs and outputs.

The inputs? Computer, PCM, needs to know air temperature, air pressure (for mountainous driving), engine rotational "timing", how good is the fuel being burned ("Oxygen Sensors"), engine temperature, engine speed, amount of air entering engine, and "demand for power" amount (gas pedal movement).

Those things enable the PCM to effectively run the engine very efficiently. An input sensor occasionally fails, causing the engine to run "horseshit"; that's where today's knowledge of "EFI" comes in. EFI is Electronic Fuel Injection. The old business of pistons, bearings, gaskets, cooling, lubrication and so on remain unchanged, working the same as always.

It ain't all that complex!

Frank

 

Now, here another question, do I don't have to do another thread:

Has your engine check light came on, with some codes, and you either: erased the codes/shut off the light with a Code Reader, or erased the codes/shut off the light by removing a battery terminal cable for a few minutes?

I've hear from some folks who have left their engine check light on and drove around with it on for weeks-to-months. Didn't do a thing about the codes that showed up, until they could afford it.

Just what happens if you have a Code Reader, you go ahead and erase the codes, which will also shut of the engine check light and decide to wait to see if the engine check light comes back on?

As for me, I don't like driving around with the engine check light on, let alone not being able to get an appointment, for at least a couple of weeks, to have it all checked out.

Thoughts about this?

 

I fool with the computer on the table after a year of post-it notes. I remember jokes with the punchline of 010011001! But I don't program or take apart my home computer.
I can add oil, change a tire, put in wiper fluid and tell when sounds are not quite right. But I don't DO computers. I bought a cow to train to be an ox to get into the back land to haul logs as I don't do much with a chain saw. But she does not want to come out because of the bugs. I might have to wait for a drought and use the truck. But it is a 1996. Not a lot of electronics. And a cow has other uses.

 

Many small engines (in fact, most) still have carbs and can use starter fluid. Starter fluid is also an emergency anesthetic if you have calm an animal for a simple procedure.

 

See? We mature people are good for something. We know stuff like that. I put an ailing pet guinea pig in a small cooler with a starter fluid soaked wash cloth and a head or lettuce. went back next day and it was permanently asleep.
We can still get starter fluid for tractors at farm supply places.

 

Good stuff here. My (rural) family-run auto parts place certainly has starter fluid. I have a 1951 Fergie 6-volt tractor and I always have a can around, starts much easier in the winter with a shot of fluid.

When I was young I was always pulling car engines, taking motorcycles apart, etc. Never went to a garage, did everything myself. When I got stuck, I asked my brother-in-law who is 10 years older than me, and knew a lot. No Googling for answers back then, lol.

In 2014 I bought a 2007 Corvette creampuff with 22k miles. It is loaded with all options and everything works. But I kept reading about problems people had with the electrical systems going crazy. They are truly rolling computers. Electronic door latches, memory seats/mirrors/radio/climate control, etc.

On June 25 it went crazy but I got it home. I changed the battery (very critical that they are in top shape) and monkeyed with a few things but gave up out of lack of interest. When young I loved fixing things, now I hate it, and now I know nothing about them.

So had it towed to a Chevy dealer. There is a fuse box under the hood, another one under the passenger floorboard, 20 or more ground points scattered around the car, harnesses going inside each door, and harnesses encircling the car, and they all have to "talk" to each other via the Body Control Module and the Engine Control Module. After 7-8 hours of labor they found the spot -- a harness in the rear above the license plate. Unplug, plug back in, everything lit up.

Surprise surprise, they only charged me for one hour of labor ($140). However I had them change the wobbly harmonic balancer on the engine (big job) and replace both serpentine belts, so with that and $225 for towing (about 30 miles) the bill was around $1,600.

Dealer said the bad connection was probably due to age, with vibration, corrosion, etc. taking their toll. All in all, I think I got a great deal.