canyonwalker (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
canyonwalker) wrote2021-08-04 09:10 pm
canyonwalker) wrote2021-08-04 09:10 pm
Entry tags:
"Service Engine" Light, Again
The SERVICE ENGINE SOON light has been on in our Nissan Xterra again. No, not while we're 1,000 miles from home in the Inland Northwest— thankfully. (We've had car trouble 1,000 miles from home before, and— except for the novelty of touring a national park in a flat bed tow truck it is not fun!) I'm pausing my writing backlog from that trip so this doesn't get too badly backlogged.
The warning light started coming on intermittently back in May. I ignored it for a while because there were no driveability problems. "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" is a general purpose idiot light that gets triggered by things as minor as the gas cap not being screwed on tightly enough. Our experience last year was that it could be ignored for months before a real problem appeared. Of course, the conclusion of that experience earlier this year was that there was a real problem. Fixing it cost $1,400.
The issue this time came to a head when the car failed a smog check yesterday. The smog check involved checking the engine computer for fault codes, and there was one related to the emissions system. Immediate fail. Likely the warning light is related to the emissions fault; though either way, the fault definitely has to be investigated and solved for the car to pass the test and get re-registered this month.
This afternoon the Nissan service writer called me back with a diagnosis. It's mud. Yes, the same root cause as the $1,400 repair we needed just 4½ months ago.
"Didn't you guys clean out the stuff that was corroded because of mud last time?" I asked.
"This is in a different part of the vehicle," the manager explained. The earlier problem involved sensors in the engine compartment being compromised by mud and dirt. This time it's exhaust-related sensors and parts in the car's rear end.
The estimate for parts and labor so far is about $1,250. I say "so far" because the manager warned me that once they replace the parts they can see are bad right now, there may only then be additional problems that emerge. The manager seemed ready for me to argue with him about that process.... Instead I told him I understood. Iterative processes are part of my work, too, and I've taught many colleagues about why they're good.
Between the $1,400 repair bill a few months ago and this looming bill now I'm starting to wonder if this car will become another money pit like our 2008 BMW convertible became. This car's a 2011 and it's got about 105k miles on it. Maybe it'll be time to put it out to pasture soon....
The warning light started coming on intermittently back in May. I ignored it for a while because there were no driveability problems. "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" is a general purpose idiot light that gets triggered by things as minor as the gas cap not being screwed on tightly enough. Our experience last year was that it could be ignored for months before a real problem appeared. Of course, the conclusion of that experience earlier this year was that there was a real problem. Fixing it cost $1,400. The issue this time came to a head when the car failed a smog check yesterday. The smog check involved checking the engine computer for fault codes, and there was one related to the emissions system. Immediate fail. Likely the warning light is related to the emissions fault; though either way, the fault definitely has to be investigated and solved for the car to pass the test and get re-registered this month.
It's Mud, Again
I dropped off the car at the nearest Nissan dealership yesterday afternoon— nearest being 15 miles away. Again I debated whether to take it to a trustworthy local mechanic who's a) around the corner and b) likely much cheaper. I decided if it's a computer-y problem the Nissan specialists at the dealership would be better prepared to handle it. So off I went.This afternoon the Nissan service writer called me back with a diagnosis. It's mud. Yes, the same root cause as the $1,400 repair we needed just 4½ months ago.
"Didn't you guys clean out the stuff that was corroded because of mud last time?" I asked.
"This is in a different part of the vehicle," the manager explained. The earlier problem involved sensors in the engine compartment being compromised by mud and dirt. This time it's exhaust-related sensors and parts in the car's rear end.
The estimate for parts and labor so far is about $1,250. I say "so far" because the manager warned me that once they replace the parts they can see are bad right now, there may only then be additional problems that emerge. The manager seemed ready for me to argue with him about that process.... Instead I told him I understood. Iterative processes are part of my work, too, and I've taught many colleagues about why they're good.
The Next Money Pit?
Still, $1,250 is nothing to sneeze at. And the bill may go higher before it's done.Between the $1,400 repair bill a few months ago and this looming bill now I'm starting to wonder if this car will become another money pit like our 2008 BMW convertible became. This car's a 2011 and it's got about 105k miles on it. Maybe it'll be time to put it out to pasture soon....
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