It is also possible this is a coincidental occurrence and not related to the work they did. If this is what the shop finds, and you do not agree with their explanation, a second opinion would be appropriate. In the Detailed-Topics section, there is an article entitled When Things Go Wrong that has a lot more information on this topic.
Oxygen sensors come in several types and serve different functions. Vehicles may have as few as one, or two, three, four or more. The basic function is to tell the power control module or PCM, how complete combustion has been. The PCM uses this information to control the fuel injectors and thus how much fuel is mixed with the air entering the engine.
When too much fuel is added, economy will suffer and components can be damaged. If there is not enough fuel, in relation to the air, running problems and damage to components can occur. Improper mixture can also result in damage to the catalytic converter(s) which can be extremely expensive.
Oxygen sensors are also used to monitor the function of the catalytic converter and test its efficiency, on post OBDII vehicles.For even more information on batteries and cables, see our Detailed Topics article, Replacing battery terminals.
Rapid flashing of the turn signal, on this vehicle, often shows one of the turn signal lamps are not operating. Check all the bulbs in the left-turn signal circuit. I have also seen quite a few failures of the circuit board that holds the rear tail lamps.
Examine the plastic around the sockets in the circuit board. Often the center socket will be discolored. Replacement of the circuit board will normally get the lights flashing at a normal speed. Many technicians suggest to prevent future occurrences, replace the bulbs with an LED type of the same number. The LED bulbs draw lower amperage and may last longer.
The 4.8L, 5.3L and 6.0L General Motors V8 engines had a good deal of problems with intake gasket leakage. We have found the fasteners that secure the intake contribute to the problem. When they are not replaced, with the intake gaskets, the problem will soon return. Another possibility is, the intake is warped too badly for the gasket to seal.
For more information, please see our Detailed Topic, GM V8 Rough Idle When Cold.
Some vehicles will set the check engine light with low oil pressure, because it interferes with engine operation. As a general rule, the check engine light means the vehicle computer system has encountered a problem it cannot resolve. This is an early-warning system to inform the driver a problem is occurring or is about to occur. Engine functions such as oil level, oil pressure and temperature generally have their own separate warning indicators.
For even more information on check engine lights, see our Detailed Topics article, Diagnostic Trouble Codes.
Batteries have several specifications that make them work best in a particular vehicle. For instance, they have a specific number of cold cranking amps or CCA. A lower CCA battery may not crank the vehicle in all conditions. The correct amount is good, but more is NOT better. As CCA goes up, reserve capacity or RC goes down. Too many CCA will have insufficient RC.
The size limitations, terminal type and placement, vented and non-vented designs, hold down types are also critical.
Automotive batteries are normally assigned group numbers. A group number specifies the size and electrical characteristics of a battery. Matching the group number on the replacement battery with the original will greatly help in getting the correct battery.
For even more information on batteries, see our Detailed Topics article, Why Batteries Die.
Most vehicles built after 1996 have sensors in the automatic transmission that allow the computer to monitor operation. A few things monitored are slippage, missed shifts, loss inputs, excess pressure adaptation and solenoid functions. OBD-II transmission codes will normally be numbered P0700 to P0799 and P1700 to P1799.
For even more information on check engine lights, see our Detailed Topics article, Diagnostic Trouble Codes.
The check engine light, more properly a malfunction indicator light (MIL) is not designed to track maintenance. Its purpose is to monitor the computer operating system and sensors that run a vehicle. When the light illuminates, a malfunction has occurred and needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
Neglecting maintenance for an extended period can cause a malfunction, in which case the light could come on. For instance failure to service an automatic transmission can cause it to fail, which could turn on the light. Properly performed, maintenance is a small investment to prevent major problems.
The most likely cause would be the starter contacts. These contacts act as a solenoid and are inside the starter. They can be replaced without replacing the entire starter. As a diagnostic test, connect a volt meter between the battery terminal on the starter and ground. If there are 12 volts present, as the key is held in start position, and the click occurs, the contacts are likely the cause.
For more information, please see our Detailed Topic, Why Does The Engine Not Crank?
The Battery Council International (BCI) assigns a group number to batteries that identifies their key size, post type and capacity characteristics. Matching the group number on the old battery with the replacement will ensure the battery will fit. The group number does NOT take quality of the product into account, however. When choosing a replacement battery, the advice of a trusted professional can be quite valuable.
A fuel gauge that does not work at all, on an older vehicle can often be tested by removing the wire that connects to the sender unit. First remove the wire and then ground the wire. If the gauge now moves, the problem is in the tank. With newer vehicles and intermittent problems, it is significantly more difficult and almost impossible without training and instruments to read the digital feeds. On these vehicles, a scan tool is used to read the input from the tank and to check the function of the gauge.
On any relatively modern vehicle, the vehicle identification number (VIN) can often be used. Anyone with access to a VIN parts database can find the options of the vehicle. Without this, the amperage rating is sometimes stamped on the case of the alternator, though it can be difficult to read. The vehicle option placard may also list the alternator option. These can be found on the driver's door, on most Chrysler's products. The option decal is often on the driver's door pillar on Ford's products. With General Motors, it may be in the glove box, truck or on the spare tire carrier.
The check fuel-cap light is an extension of the standard on board diagnostics [OBD] of the vehicle. The fuel cap is part of the evaporative emissions system. The engine computer tests to be certain the system is air tight. It does this by drawing a vacuum and seeing how long it will hold. If the system cannot achieve a vacuum, it assumes there is a gross leak and sets the check fuel-cap light. The system can be misleading as a number of other things can cause the same symptom. If tightening the cap does not rectify the problem, the evaporative emissions system should be checked.
Please see our Detailed Topic Evaporative Emissions Systems and Fuel Caps for more information.
Batteries may carry one or two warranties. The first is free-replacement and not available on all batteries. There will be a period of time in which the battery will be replaced without charge, if it fails. This period is normally six-months to two-years. This is an actual warranty.
The second type is the more common pro-rated warranty. Often these are little more than over-priced insurance, added to the cost of the battery. For instance the battery may have a six year warranty. If it fails in two years there is a cost per month for the time the battery was used. With pro-rated warranties, the cost of replacement often exceeds the price of a new battery, if the battery is a few years old. Generally, buying a battery with over a five year warranty is a waste of money.
The exact amount will vary from vehicle to vehicle and even on the same vehicle from cold to hot temperature. Cranking several vehicles in the shop and measuring, provided an average of around 185 amps. This is with gasoline engines and at 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The highest was around 200 amps, and the lowest was 175, so I feel this is pretty typical.
For more information, please see our Detailed Topic, Why Does The Engine Not Crank?
Alternators take about one horsepower for twenty-five amps of output. A 125 amp alternator would require about five horsepower, when at the full charge. Because of this high-power consumption and because of the heat generated, modern vehicles regulate output to just above what is needed.
For other things that keep brake lights from operating properly, please see our Detailed Topic How To Diagnose Brake Light Problems.
Repeated failure of a single light is often caused by a bad lamp socket. This is particularly common on the push in type sockets that are not spring loaded. Replacement of the socket will often cure the bulb issue.
For more information on light sockets, please see our Detailed Topic How To Diagnose Brake Light Problems.
The answer is both. Temperature extremes of either type tend to kill batteries. A good deal of research points out that high temperatures actually kill the battery and low temperature reveals the damage.
For even more information on batteries, see our Detailed Topics article, Why Batteries Die.
For more information on checking fuses and relays, please see our Detailed Topic, How to check fuses and relays.
For more information on potential problems from battery leakages, please see our Detailed Topic The Cost of Battery Terminal Corrosion.
For more information on brake light problems, please see our Detailed Topic How To Diagnose Brake Light Problems.
I would never recommend disconnection of the battery to turn off a malfunction indicator lamp (MIL). Disconnecting the battery may temporarily turn out the light on some vehicles, but it also destroys the data a technician will need to repair the vehicle. Loss of this data can make correction of the original problem that caused the light to come on much more expensive.
Worse, other data that led up to the failure, that turned on the light can greatly speed the time of repair and reduce the cost substantially. This data and any fault codes are also loss when battery power is disconnected. Only a trained technician, after recording the needed data, should clear fault codes.For even more information on check engine lights, see our Detailed Topics article, Failing State Inspection.
When the second character is 0 it indicates a generic code. A higher number indicates a manufacturer specific code and can vary from one make to another or even among makes.
The third character indicates the area that caused the code to set.For more information on exhaust gas recycle or EGR valves, please see our Detailed Topic How does and EGR valve work.
The second cause is a loose mounting that allows the bulb to vibrate. Excessive vibration will break the filament inside the bulb. Finally, a crack or hole in the headlamp housing allows moisture in, and this will cause the hot bulb to fail.
Connections and relays almost always burn because of excessive amperage flow. First check to make sure the engine and all accessories on it rotate freely. You can check by putting a wrench on the large crankshaft nut and turning the engine by hand. If the engine turns freely and smoothly, I would suspect a shorted starter motor. Have the amperage draw of the motor checked.
For more information, please see our Detailed Topic, Why Does The Engine Not Crank?
For more information on brake light diagnosis, please see our Detailed Topic How To Diagnose Brake Light Problems.
For other things that keep brake lights from operating properly, please see our Detailed Topic How To Diagnose Brake Light Problems.
Please see our Detailed Topic Evaporative Emissions Systems and Fuel Caps for more information.
For more information, please see our Detailed Topic, GM V8 Rough Idle When Cold.
Please see our Detailed Topic article GM Dash Gauge Failure for far more details.
Please see our Detailed Topic article GM Dash Gauge Failure for far more details.
For more information on the gauges on the dash, please see or Detailed Topic, What Do The Gauges on The Dash Mean.
For more information on starter solenoid operation, please see our Detailed Topic, Why Does The Engine Not Crank.
For more information on checking fuses and relays, please see our Detailed Topic, How to check fuses and relays.
The average life of an automobile battery across the US is about 38 months. This is considerably shorter than a few years ago. Increased demand on electrical systems is partially to blame for the decrease.
For even more information on batteries, see our Detailed Topics article, Why Batteries Die. >.
The difference in a deep cycle and normal automobile battery is basically how much power they produce and for how long. Normal automobile batteries are designed to produce a large amount of amperage, for a short time. This is to produce the energy to crank the engine when cold.
Deep cycle batteries are not designed to produce as much amperage, but they can provide power for longer periods of time. For instance a trolling motor in a boat, does not draw a large amount of current, but may be used for several hours. A deep cycle battery may not produce enough current to crank a car, and a car battery may not survive a long discharge period without recharge. Each type has a specific purpose.
For even more information on batteries, please see our Detailed Topics article, Why Batteries Die.
This problem is often caused by worn starter solenoid contacts. To isolate the problem an inductive amp meter should be connected to the positive cable and a volt meter to the starter terminal. With the symptom duplicated, see if amperage is very low and the voltage is normal. If so check voltage at the terminal that leads from the solenoid to the motor. If voltage is not present when the symptom occurs this is quite likely the problem. If milage is high, it may be most cost effective to replace the entire starter with the solenoid.
For more information, please see our Detailed Topic, Why Does The Engine Not Crank?
A good starting point in fixing a misfire is to determine if you have a single cylinder or multiple cylinder problem. Without other equipment, a good way to determine this is with a vacuum gauge. Attach the gauge and note the reading. Remove the spark plug wires, one at a time, with the engine running. The vacuum should drop about the same amount when any wire is removed.
IF it does not drop on any one cylinder, that cylinder is where the misfire is occurring. Swap the spark plug and wire with one on a cylinder that is not misfiring. If the misfire moves, the plug or wire is bad. If not check the compression on the engine and see if it that cylinder is low. IF the compression is low, the problem is likely an internal engine problem.
If all cylinders make about the same difference, when the plug wires are removed, the miss is likely affecting all cylinders equally. This could be the caused by the carburetor, a bad vacuum leak, mis-routed plug wires or other things that affect all the cylinders equally.