vB Easy Archive - My check engine light just came on. " 2003 impala ".

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My check engine light just came on. " 2003 impala ".
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Posted by: [IFC]Area51

At 11K miles.....is this normal? Do i have to change my spark plugs, spark plug cables, filter..etc ..etc?

I'm kind of tight right now to buy the parts but i hardly use my car " mind the low mileage ", will it harm the car if i drive for lets say another 500 miles with the check engine light on? or the check engine light might be another problem other than the ones i mentioned above or are those correct or am i missing more?

Thanks in advance guys.

Posted by: KrisUK

I'd get it checked first just incase there's a serious problem with it. It could be just a faulty sensor that's bought up the light but it's well worth getting the engine checked before driving it much further. It usually detects a problem by monitoring the emission control system so it can be either something simple or serious. It's usually recommended by the manufacturer you don't do any driving when it lights up and to stop as soon as possible to get it checked.

You can check a lot of stuff like the filter, spark plugs, oil etc. yourself and it doesn't take long. Just stuff like making sure all the spark plugs are in good condition and all spark, that the filter is fairly clean, there's enough oil, all pipes are firmly connected etc.

Posted by: Nokarola

Actually it might be, when my aunt had her 04 oddessy, the light came on at exactly 10k (the recomend schedauled maintence millage). But I would go to find out what code is being given, I think store like Autozone will check the code for free, then take the necessary steps.

Posted by: bubble.tea

Quote:

Originally posted by [IFC]Area51
At 11K miles.........

it's an '03 and you only have 11thousand miles? WOW.

Posted by: rob0589

same problem happened with my cadillac cts... You have a warrenty so bring it in

Posted by: rteenie22

yea man its best to spend a few bucks to be safe rather than taking your chances and having to break the bank

Posted by: Fido4life

I assume that the car is under warranty, have it checked out

for all you know, it could be something as stupid as a loose gas cap

Posted by: wuman82

If its a 03 car and only 11k miles, it should still be under warranty. Then why don't you take it in and have it chaecked out? It won't cost you anything, if indeed something is wrong that throw the code that manufacture should fix it for you for free.

Posted by: Smeech

Yeah, if its under warranty, go to the dealer! Or at least go to a parts store that can pull the code...

Posted by: 91RS

Did you happen to put something different in the car than you usually do? When my grandma puts gas from a certain gas station (don't remember which) in her Neon, the CES light come on. Maybe your car is just picky about something.

Posted by: AgeNt B

On my friends mom's 01 venture the same thing happened. They ignored it for a while and when they fineally brought it in, there was a serious engine isse! get it checked out NOW!!!

Posted by: [IFC]Area51

Quote:

Originally posted by bubble.tea
it's an '03 and you only have 11thousand miles? WOW.

You know whats funny, when people ask me how many miles i have they think im reading it wrong, hehe. They think i should have something more like 110k miles, i be like NO! 11K, hehe. I only use it on the weekends, i usually drive my company jeep cherokee, 2005 nissan path finder or the land rover, so my car is usually looking at the curb most of the time.

I think i will call the dealer since i have low miles on it " I hope it does cover it ". I only move the car from one side of the street to the other and another funny thing, i noticed 3 days ago that the " check engine light " came off, WTH? what do you guys think it is? is the light suppossed to come off after a while? Thanks for all your replies guys, i really appreciate all your recommendations. Thanks again.

P.S. Another thing, should i go to the dealer i got it from? or can i go to any chevrolet dealer?

-Ed.

Posted by: 91RS

110k miles on a 03? That's a lotta driving! I only have 119k on my 91.

Posted by: [IFC]Area51

Quote:

Originally posted by 91RS
110k miles on a 03? That's a lotta driving! I only have 119k on my 91.

Hehe, i think you misread it, take a look again and read my initial post.

Quote:

You know whats funny, when people ask me how many miles i have they think im reading it wrong, hehe. They think i should have something more like 110k miles, i be like NO! 11K, hehe.

Kool?

Posted by: [IFC]Area51

Quote:

Originally posted by 91RS
Did you happen to put something different in the car than you usually do? When my grandma puts gas from a certain gas station (don't remember which) in her Neon, the CES light come on. Maybe your car is just picky about something.

I always use BP. The recommended type of gas is "regular" for the 03 " impalas ".

Posted by: 91RS

Quote:

Originally posted by [IFC]Area51
Hehe, i think you misread it, take a look again and read my initial post.

Kool?

Um, yes I know what you said. I meant that if a 03 had that many miles on it, that's a lot of driving.

Posted by: [IFC]Area51

Quote:

Originally posted by 91RS
Um, yes I know what you said. I meant that if a 03 had that many miles on it, that's a lot of driving.

Oh ok, sorry man didn't want to sound smart or anything, we kool right?

Posted by: 91RS

Quote:

Originally posted by [IFC]Area51
Oh ok, sorry man didn't want to sound smart or anything, we kool right?

Yep.

Posted by: bubble.tea

Quote:

Originally posted by [IFC]Area51
You know whats funny, when people ask me how many miles i have they think im reading it wrong, hehe. They think i should have something more like 110k miles, i be like NO! 11K, hehe. I only use it on the weekends, i usually drive my company jeep cherokee, 2005 nissan path finder or the land rover, so my car is usually looking at the curb most of the time.

I think i will call the dealer since i have low miles on it " I hope it does cover it ". I only move the car from one side of the street to the other and another funny thing, i noticed 3 days ago that the " check engine light " came off, WTH? what do you guys think it is? is the light suppossed to come off after a while? Thanks for all your replies guys, i really appreciate all your recommendations. Thanks again.

P.S. Another thing, should i go to the dealer i got it from? or can i go to any chevrolet dealer?

-Ed.

ohhhhhhhhh...now it allmaekssense?
you have access to three other vehicleson a daily basis...dammit..that's sweet.

taking to original or not is irrelevant. It's not like the original has some secret info on your vehicle that any other deal wont' have. The only ting I'm wondering is if they share the same maintenance/service database or not? and if your car has 60,000 miles or whatever it is as warranttee then there'll be no pocket expense for you.

Is it EITHER 60Kmiles or 5 yrs whichever comes first...or is it another way they evaluate your coverage?

p.s. can you put me down for the rover from Sunday-Friday coming please thanks

Posted by: [IFC]Area51

HAHAHAHAHA, come down to NYC and i'll take you to joy ride it.

I called the dealer i got my car from today and they asked for my VIN# to see if i was covered and indeed i was. The lady i spoke to told me you are cover until you reach either of these first: year 2008 or 50K miles., " i think i'll reach 2008 first ", if im still alive, hehe.

Now, they told me, we dont know what your car might have, we need to read the code and if it's something the warranty covers then you dont need to pay for it nor the diagnostic fee " which is $95.00 ".

They also notified me that if the warranty doesn't cover what they find and i dont want to pay the price for repair then all i need to pay is the diagnostic fee " which is $95.00 ".

I'm thinking to myself....i know im going to have to pay for everything they find because it simply sounds that my vehicle needs a tune up " gas filter, air filer,pvc valve..etc...etc.

The guy over at the repair department asked me if my car was stalling? i said no. Is your rev's decreasing? i said no and i also told him that my engine check light went off and he said it could be something simple that the gasoline line might've encountered some dirt particles and that they got out and that the check engine light was on when the dirt particles were still there and that they turned off when they got out of the gasoline line.

I think i will take it to the dealer this friday, i made an appointment to take it in at 7am. I will take it in and pay the $95.00 just to know what's wrong with it if the warranty doesn't cover it and then go talk to a friend of mines that knows a dealer that gives him 50% discount on parts.

Thanks for all your replies guys it really helped me into getting a little bit more knowledge of the check engine light and also made me figure out a right decision on what to do with my car, THANKS ALOT!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: bubble.tea

Quote:

Originally posted by [IFC]Area51
HAHAHAHAHA, come down to NYC and i'll take you to joy ride it.

.......and that they got out and that the check engine light was on when the dirt particles were still there and that they turned off when they got out of the gasoline line.
.......

I'll hold you to that

and yeah....my regal after just doing a FULL 110k SERVICING...turned on it's SERVCIE ENGINE SOON, also the light for TRAC OFF was stuck "on" regardless of whether I push it in or out.....and I was pissed off. I pulled over on the HWY...shut off...then restarted (sound familiar to anyone? WINDOWS CRASHING? RESTARTING FIXES ALL?///heheheh) and it was gone hehehe. maybe the same thing?

and about you needing all that work....I DON'T THINK SO BUD!!! REMEMBER WHAT MILEAGE YOU HAVE!!!!! that sorta work comes into play way wayyyyyyyyyyyyy into your HUNDRED THOUSAND klicks range....or maybe less....no way at 11K!!!!! DON'T GET SUCKERED...but by the sounds of it...you have money to burn...so YEAH GO AHEAD! hehehe.

Posted by: [IFC]Area51

Quote:

Originally posted by bubble.tea

and about you needing all that work....I DON'T THINK SO BUD!!! REMEMBER WHAT MILEAGE YOU HAVE!!!!! that sorta work comes into play way wayyyyyyyyyyyyy into your HUNDRED THOUSAND klicks range....or maybe less....no way at 11K!!!!! DON'T GET SUCKERED...but by the sounds of it...you have money to burn...so YEAH GO AHEAD! hehehe.

By this you mean that they shouldn't charge me for the tune up? Does the warranty covers the tune-ups at all?

I also forgot to mention that the service guy told me i shouldn't have the need to change the spark plugs because they are platinum and they go up to 100K miles but i like to be on the safe side of things ya know

Posted by: bubble.tea

Quote:

Originally posted by [IFC]Area51
By this you mean that they shouldn't charge me for the tune up? Does the warranty covers the tune-ups at all?

I also forgot to mention that the service guy told me i shouldn't have the need to change the spark plugs because they are platinum and they go up to 100K miles but i like to be on the safe side of things ya know .

no, I mean that a 100K servicing shouldn't be done at 11K.

and platinum is for GM I think., my Buick ahs that too. they are rated 100K. but it's your call. I think dealers will charge you about $15per plug X 6=...oh yeah that's CAD. I knew my mechanic so I got it about $7...I'm sure your friend could get it cheaper....hey man., it's your call...there's being safe...and there's being pathetic...replacing plugs at 1/10th their life-expectancy is a little paranoid don't ya think?

ahem...we never got around to understanding why you have access to three wicked trucks?

and more importantly..why I don't.lmao.

Posted by: [IFC]Area51

Quote:

Originally posted by bubble.tea
no, I mean that a 100K servicing shouldn't be done at 11K.

and platinum is for GM I think., my Buick ahs that too. they are rated 100K. but it's your call. I think dealers will charge you about $15per plug X 6=...oh yeah that's CAD. I knew my mechanic so I got it about $7...I'm sure your friend could get it cheaper....hey man., it's your call...there's being safe...and there's being pathetic...replacing plugs at 1/10th their life-expectancy is a little paranoid don't ya think?

ahem...we never got around to understanding why you have access to three wicked trucks? and more importantly..why I don't.lmao.

hey hey pathetic sounds like a harsh word, hehe. You're right aboout being paranoid though and yeah my friend could get me the spark plugs at around $6.00, not bad.

In regards to the 3 cars:

I work as a paralegal for a lawyers office. My boss bought me a 2003 jeep cherokee to visit clients and stuff. I used to drive his first car when he hired me " BMW 528i ", then when he got rid of his 528i he bought an X5 which i then used.

My other boss bought an infinity jeep that i used when the X5 went in for service. One time he told me to stop putting it in the lot around my house which was costing him to much money so i said " OK ", put it on the streets and 2 days later both head lights were gone, OUCH! at $1500 each, hehe but he only paid $500.00 deductible " total on damages was $10,000.00 ", that happened to him for being cheap.

Then the lease was up on the X5 and the infinity so my boss got the Land Rover and my other boss got the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder, **** the pathfinder has power woof!.

And my impala is always sleeping, i only use it to pick up my daughter on the weekeds.

P.S. No offence to the jeep cherokke owners but i think it's a piece of C R A P!!!! transmission problems galore OMG!!!! and stalls like crazy jeez.

I told him to get that Toyota 4Runner but he didn't listen, he has spend money on it already, ALOT!!!

We were talking about what other car/jeep we might get and he was thinking of maybe a BMW 325i or something but i need more room than that for my clients because some of them have wheel charis sometimes and crutches, so i was thinking something bigger like a Toyota Highlander or maybe a Chevy Equinox.

What you think he should get us?

Posted by: B0000rt

Durango Hemi!

That thing hauls!

I was like woah, this is an SUV?!

Posted by: [IFC]Area51

Yeah, that sounds nice, lets see if he want's to get it now. Thanks for your suggestion mang.

Posted by: bubble.tea

ahhh yes...para illegal...nice!

which one.? durango...yeah that baby rocks...I got it once as a rental to drive around our major general for the day...dangmang...that is one wicked truck...the only REALLY dumb thing coming from driving a SILVERADO...is you notice the side view mirrors are <1/2 the size....yeeeeeeeesh...I could barely see the windshield of the cars behind me in those miniscule mirrors.

X5 or is it X7...what's wrong with that one again? whoa!!!

hmmm.....I take it you want the image of a rich office...and the functionality of carrying people around with loads of extra space for wheel chairs? how' bout PACIFICA?

heheheh imagine they came out with a MAGNUM SUV? whoa!!!!!

sorry if I was too harsh...but sometimes it's required to snap back to reality and away from paranoia

Posted by: bubble.tea

Quote:

Originally posted by [IFC]Area51
hey ..............at $1500 each, hehe but he only paid $500.00 .......

WOW!

Posted by: bubble.tea

my favourite SUV since 1 year....may not have as much room as you claim you need though? MIND YOU in the commercial they do fit an entire JUNGLE in the back trunk area.

I'm not a fan of US manufacturers so you won't find many on my list...although the Rainier and Excursion., Navigator are beheamouths... here's my list. not necesarily in droll order

2005 Infiniti FX35 2WD $34,950
280 HP 3.5L V6 17/23 MPG

2005 Dodge Durango Adventurer Model 4X4 $33,815
230 HP 4.7L V8 14/18 MPG

2005 Cadillac SRX V8 $50,135
320 HP 4.6L V8 15/21 MPG
OKAY OKAY!! THEN GET THE ESCALADE!

2005 BMW X5 4.8is Sports Activity Vehicle $70,100 $63,970
355HP 4.8L V8 16/21 mpg

2005 Porsche Cayenne Turbo $89,300 $78,007
450HP 4.5L V8 13/18 mpg
when you need to get to court on time!

2005 HUMMER H2 SUV Sport Utility $52,430 $47,973
325HP 6.0L V8 NA/NA mpg
nothing says WHOA as much as one of these.

2005 Chrysler Pacifica FWD $24,515 210 HP
3.8L V6 18/25 MPG

2004 Isuzu Axiom S 2WD $24,849
250 HP 3.5L V6 18/23 MPG (don't know much but looks nice?)

2005 GMC Envoy XUV SLT 2WD $33,865
275 HP 4.2L I6 15/19 MPG
drove the living nutz outta one of these in the boonies one night back in January THANK GOD for military rentals...nothing special-just big.

2005 Chevrolet Equinox LS 2WD $21,320
185 HP 3.4L V6 19/25 MPG

2005 Kia Sorento LX 4X2 $18,995
192 HP 3.5L V6 16/20 MPG
(NOT A LUXURY VEHICLE...but looks really nice IMHO

Posted by: [IFC]Area51

Quote:

Originally posted by bubble.tea

hmmm.....I take it you want the image of a rich office...and the functionality of carrying people around with loads of extra space for wheel chairs? how' bout PACIFICA?

Not really to have a rich image, i mean if they can afford it then i guess they are, hehe.

I never really told him to buy an X5 for me to work on and stuff but hey.

From your list, i would be comfortable into getting either the Equinox or the pacifica. I sometimes have to put multiple bins of files on the back also, not just wheel chairs " sorry forgot to mention the rest ".

Thanks alot Bubble for all your suggestions.