Lessons Learned

[L84THSKY]

I purchased a bumper to bumper extended warranty last year when I bought the car. It's given me a false sense of security thinking everything is covered.

Twice, I have now brought it to the dealer for problems. The first time the regulators were replaced and covered under warranty.

This time the "check engine" light was on.

The dealer did come to my job and flatbed the car to the dealership for free, can't complain about that.

The problem is, I need to remember that if the issue isn't covered by my warranty, I eat the cost of any work done. It's like paying a deductible to see the doctor, only to find out sometimes the remaining costs are covered, and sometimes they're not.

That experience has changed my way of thinking. I just ordered the Peake diagnostic code reader. From now on, if I have a "check engine" light, I see what the code is, and do some investigating. If I determine that it's serious, I bring it to the dealer and hope it's under warranty. If not, then I reset the code and see if it returns.

Granted, I only ended up paying $69.00 for the visit, which was for 2 vacuum hoses and a half our diagnostic labor fee, but I probably could have resolved this myself.

Bottom line, save the warranty for the big stuff, deal with all the small stuff myself.

[robcarync]

thats what i started doing...working on the little stuff myself...

granted i dont have a warranty, but basically it got too expensive taking the car to the dealer for every little problem....

and that is pretty jacked up about 'bumper to bumper' not really being 'bumper to bumper'

GAY!

[bmw318tiChic]

Yeah, you can save a lot of money by just figuring out what the "check engine" light means and fixing the problem yourself.

[1996 328ti]

I like having the Peake tool. My CEL went on the other day and it was an 02 sensor. This way I can pick up the part when I can and have my mechanic install it. If the Peake read something serious I would know to bring it in.

[L84THSKY]

The dealership also mentioned I need new belts. Isn't there some long flat metal tool to hold the pulley while you remove and replace the serpentine belt? I wanna replace that as well. How many belts are on the system...two?

Originally Posted by 1996 328ti

I like having the Peake tool. My CEL went on the other day and it was an 02 sensor. This way I can pick up the part when I can and have my mechanic install it. If the Peake read something serious I would know to bring it in.

[cali-ti]

from what i remember reading, that long flat tool can basically be a screwdriver that said, i had my indy mechanic do mine while they were doing the whole water hose/radiator/etc refresh on my car so i haven't done it myself.

[L84THSKY]

I had an itch, so I went and installed the Vaders just now.

I haden't driven the car today, because I took my motorcycle to work. After I finished the seats, reconnected the battery and started the car, I heard this strange sound. It sounded like a vacuum cleaner under my hood. When I looked closer, it was coming from the Air Flow Meter. That seemed strange, then I noticed the OBD connector cap was never screwed back on after I returned from the dealer.

I shut off the car, put the cap back on, and started it again, Voila!...the vacuum noise was gone. If you look inside the cap, you will see there are some metal pins. I guess some of them are jumpers, and the cap needs to be on to complete the circuit.

Those assholes at the dealership piss me off!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by cali-ti

from what i remember reading, that long flat tool can basically be a screwdriver that said, i had my indy mechanic do mine while they were doing the whole water hose/radiator/etc refresh on my car so i haven't done it myself.

[cali-ti]

Originally Posted by L84THSKY

Those assholes at the dealership piss me off!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i came to this point awhile ago and that's why i do all i can never to go to one for repairs. although, i guess dealerships would be just like independents, some are good, some are not. the more i worked on my car myself, the more crap i found that the dealer had done (read broken!) that pissed me off. attention to detail ya monkeys! stop breakin' my ****!

now i break it myself and i'm much happier, lol

[1996 328ti]

Now that we are on this rant. I started working on my car when I would see independents letting my calipers hang by the hose. They just did not care the way I do. I have found a good independent since.

[robcarync]

calipers hanging by the hose...

my pops always taught me to never do that!

i usually take a wire coat hanger, and loop it around the spring, and through the caliper so it hangs from the wire hanger and not the hose!

geeez im an amateur when it comes to working on cars and i even know not to do that!

[mickd]

Originally Posted by L84THSKY

The dealership also mentioned I need new belts. Isn't there some long flat metal tool to hold the pulley while you remove and replace the serpentine belt? I wanna replace that as well. How many belts are on the system...two?

There's a hex opening, I think it's 10mm, on the A/C tensioner pulley which has an offset center. You use a torque wrench with a hex bit to set the tension. The other tensioner is spring loaded.

[mickd]

L84THSKY, Here's a good thread on belt/pulley replacement http://staff.connect.com.au/lheather.../msg00234.html
I'm due for the second time at 127K.

[L84THSKY]

The CEL came on again, coincidently, the Peake diagnostic tool arrived today. I plugged in the device and read the code. Maybe I'm crazy, but according to what it said, the problem wasn't what I expected. I'm already having doubts about these diagnostic readers.

The two vacuum hoses that the dealer sold me really werent necessary. If you ever notice the vacuum hose that plugs into the nipple just above the oil filter, that was cracked. That most likely happens from removing the oil filter cap during oil changes. Also another hose to some valve to the left front most of the engine. What the dealer didn't want to say was that all you had to do was cut a half inch piece of the hose off, to remove the cracked area, and put the hose back on the nipple. Total cost ZERO $$$$$.

So to determine if they were just trying to screw me, I looked at all of the "future maintenance" items they recommended.

1. Front rotors could use replacement
2. Rear rotors didn't look that bad.
3. Belts didn't have a noticeable cracks, maybe they used a microscope.

And last but not least.......

They recommended a wheel alignment. They recommended that the last time I was there for the window regulators. I doubt they put the car on an alignment machine to make that call, and the tires do not show signs of uneven wear. Besides, I just had one done when I had my new wheels put on in April.

I gotta wonder where they get that conclusion from!

Originally Posted by cali-ti

i came to this point awhile ago and that's why i do all i can never to go to one for repairs. although, i guess dealerships would be just like independents, some are good, some are not. the more i worked on my car myself, the more crap i found that the dealer had done (read broken!) that pissed me off. attention to detail ya monkeys! stop breakin' my ****!

now i break it myself and i'm much happier, lol

[cali-ti]

what did the code reader indicate was the problem?

[L84THSKY]

I forget, but it made no sense to me.

I reset the bastard, will see if it comes back since I fixed the vacuum hoses

Originally Posted by cali-ti

what did the code reader indicate was the problem?