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Testing a bad engine computer, and its symptoms?


charlie8575

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Take it to a dealership and have a diagnstics done on it. That way, you won't have to guess what's wrong with it, you'll know exactly what's wrong with it. You surely aren't going to find the answer to your car's problem on a model car forum. Anyone can guess what the problem is. Look at all of the money you've spent already trying to figure out what's wrong.

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plowboy, on 11 Dec 2013 - 10:21 AM, said:snapback.png

Take it to a dealership and have a diagnstics done on it. That way, you won't have to guess what's wrong with it, you'll know exactly what's wrong with it. You surely aren't going to find the answer to your car's problem on a model car forum. Anyone can guess what the problem is. Look at all of the money you've spent already trying to figure out what's wrong.

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Funny how folks have differing opinions about the usefulness of dealerships. I just this month replaced a failed computer in a 2001 PT Cruiser. I charged the client $35 to pull the codes from the bad one, research a reliable source for a reman unit, and got a programmed replacement for less than $170, including shipping...with a lifetime warranty. Installed the unit for another $35. Less than $250 total.

The dealership would have got close to a grand.

Gee. I wonder what the big difference in price is.

Going to a dealership does NOT guarantee a competent diagnosis OR repair, but it DOES guarantee you'll spend a ton of money.

Edited by Ace-Garageguy
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Funny how folks have differing opinions about the usefulness of dealerships. I just this month replaced a failed computer in a 2001 PT Cruiser. I charged the client $35 to pull the codes from the bad one, research a reliable source for a reman unit, and got a programmed replacement for less than $170, including shipping...with a lifetime warranty. Installed the unit for another $35. Less than $250 total.

The dealership would have got close to a grand.

Gee. I wonder what the big difference in price is.

Going to a dealership does Not guarantee a competent diagnosis OR repair, but it DOES guarantee you'll spend a ton of money.

Sure, maybe it does, maybe it doesn't, I took my car to the dealership to have them do a dio on my car, they waved the fee for me($175), but If you feel that MCM can solve his car problems, then I guess Ployboy and me and Rob are wrong then, and Charlie should not take his car somewhere and have it looked at.

No one said he had to use the dealership for repairs, just to find out what the problem is, I am sorry you didnt figure that part out, or take to a shop, doesnt matter, just take it to someone that can figure out what is wrong with it, what is hard about that ?

I had to replace the ECU in my car, dealer wanted $800 for a new ECU, I said no thanks, went online, found place's that repair ECU's for less the $300, sent it in, a week later, had a working ECU, spent $125.

Take somewhere , have some one look at it that is certified in car repairs, I mean, you can throw your entire back account at the car, but unless you are replacing the broken part/piece, then its sort of pointless right.

I sort of would like to know what is wrong and fix that part, then replace a bunch of other parts that may not be bad because I wont take it to someone that might know more then I do, makes sense?, probably not

Edited by martinfan5
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Sure, maybe it does, maybe it doesn't, I took my car to the dealership to have them do a dio on my car, they waved the fee for me($175), but If you feel that MCM can solve his car problems, then I guess Ployboy and me and Rob are wrong then

No sir...not at all...and not what I said. I think he needs to find a COMPETENT mechanic, wherever that may be, who actually understands what he's doing, will charge a fair price for correct work, and who will stand behind it.

I simply said that a trip to the dealer is no guarantee of competent techs working on the car. But then I've only been in the business for 40+ years, so what could I possibly know?

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No sir...not at all...and not what I said. I think he needs to find a COMPETENT mechanic, wherever that may be, who actually understands what he's doing, will charge a fair price for correct work, and who will stand behind it.

That can be a hard thing to do...sometimes independent shops are great, sometimes not so much....likewise for dealers. I guess a source like Angie's List or the BBB would be a good place to start looking for one.

I'm lucky that I've got a great independent shop that I've used for my Jeep, a great independent Mercedes specialist, and the Cadillac dealer that seems quite competent...that they are all within a mile and half from home is a plus.

Edited by Rob Hall
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No sir...not at all...and not what I said. I think he needs to find a COMPETENT mechanic, wherever that may be, who actually understands what he's doing, will charge a fair price for correct work, and who will stand behind it.

I simply said that a trip to the dealer is no guarantee of competent techs working on the car. But then I've only been in the business for 40+ years, so what could I possibly know?

Ok, misunderstanding, just find some one competent is agreed

In all honesty Charlie, trade it in and get a quality Japanese car

Edited by martinfan5
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When exactly does the stalling happen, or did I miss that?

I diagnosed a stalling issue on two vehicles due to the torque converter not coming out of lockup when slowing down for a red light. Come to a stop and it would stall intermittenly, but when it happend it was always coming to a stop. A car and a truck, both GM.

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Yes sir, I believe it.

Kinda makes you question the wisdom of sending all these parts out of the country to get rebuilt. I'd MUCH rather pay an extra $20 to get an alternator that was rebuilt in the USA and worked right the FIRST time, instead of getting garbage, installing it, only to find it's ###### and having to go back to try another one.

Again, there's nobody driving the bus who has a clue.

I hear ya, main reason I don't work there anymore let alone shop there anymore.

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The majority of vehicles getting Auto Zone parts are only a few months from the scrapyard- these retailers see no real need to offer better quality parts even with a "lifetime" warranty- percentage wise the crappy part is still good enough to outlast the car it's installed on in most cases and the number of returns for new defective parts is within a limit they're still making more selling cheap junk than a more expensive higher quality part

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