NationStates Jolt Archive

I drove to Burger King to get lunch because I felt the need for some really disgusting food that would make me feel bloated and gassy later, and I noticed that my check engine light had come on and my car was idling rough. Then I noticed alot of smoke comming out of the tailpipe. I had to stomp on the gas and keep the RPMs high just to keep the engine running and the car moving long enough to get back to work. I just bought the car used about three or four weeks ago and I think the engine's about to bite it.

Sucks to be me.

It is God's will.

Get a ride home from a buddy.

It is God's will.
I'm so gonna kick god's ass for this.

Get really hammered and deal with it later.

I'm so gonna kick god's ass for this.
The important question is, how much did you pay for it? If it's only a couple of hundred quid, meh.

The important question is, how much did you pay for it? If it's only a couple of hundred quid, meh.
Only $5,300.

Only $5,300.
Owned!

http://www.teamten.com/Postings/EastwardDay4/resized/Rusty%20car.jpg

I drove to Burger King to get lunch because I felt the need for some really disgusting food that would make me feel bloated and gassy later, and I noticed that my check engine light had come on and my car was idling rough. Then I noticed alot of smoke comming out of the tailpipe. I had to stomp on the gas and keep the RPMs high just to keep the engine running and the car moving long enough to get back to work. I just bought the car used about three or four weeks ago and I think the engine's about to bite it.

Sucks to be me.

That sounds like a fuel injector problem, or a carborater if it is an older car.

That sounds like a fuel injector problem, or a carborater if it is an older car.
Fuel injector? Really? I was thinking blown head gasket or something.

I drove to Burger King to get lunch because I felt the need for some really disgusting food that would make me feel bloated and gassy later, and I noticed that my check engine light had come on and my car was idling rough. Then I noticed alot of smoke comming out of the tailpipe. I had to stomp on the gas and keep the RPMs high just to keep the engine running and the car moving long enough to get back to work. I just bought the car used about three or four weeks ago and I think the engine's about to bite it.

Sucks to be me.

You might try checking your fuel filter and your oxygen sensor.
Oxygen sensor will trip the Check Engine light - which is what I alternatively call the Mystery Light or The Spend Money On Me Light.
You never know WHAT the fuck is wrong when that goddam light comes on, but, usually, it is the environmental controls that set off the Check Engine light...and not actual, serious engine damage. People make more of that light than it usually indicates.

The running and idling rough can be an indication of poor fuel supply, hence my suggestion to check your fuel filter/filters (some cars have more than one.)
Also, if your oxygen sensor is screwed, you may be getting a bad fuel/air mix in your combustion chambers of your engine, also causing rough idling. You may be getting too much fuel and not enough air...what they call "running rich." Especially if your exhaust smells strongly of gas...that is a good indication you are running rich...and that will cause the kinds of problems you are describing.

My suggestion is to take it to a reliable mechanic, if you have one, and have him slap an engine computer diagnostic on it. You might also have him run a compression test. You would hope that the compression would be good, otherwise you DO have an engine problem....but I suspect it is more likely your fuel filter/s and/or oxygen sensor.

The point is...get it checked by a reliable professional with an engine diagnostic computer....and, if you can, WATCH him while he's doing it, so you can't get ripped off later.

No, I'm no mechanic, I am just speaking from personal experience with similar car problems.

One other thing you might check...and you should hope this isn't it, because it is more expensive, but....if you have fuel injection rather than a carbureator...and most cars these days do...have someone else start your car, after you have taken off the cover for the air filter. See if you see any fuel leaking from the throttle-body. You may have bad throttle-body seals, which would cause you to get less gas into the combustion compartment of your engine...and would cause a rich gas smell under the hood, but not necessarily in the exhaust.

Try those things, it might help. I sincerely doubt you have serious engine problems.

There IS one other thing you can do, to check if you have engine problems. This does not rule out engine problems BUT it could rule it IN.

Check your oil. If it looks normal, you may or may not have an engine problem, but...if the oil is creamy-colored...you definitely have an engine problem, as the creamy color is caused by the chemical interaction between antifreeze and oil.

Hopefully, you'll sort this out and it won't be too expensive.

You may also want to check your air-intake manifold.

Again, no mechanic here, but these are problems I, myself, have had with cars...and it caused them to act much in similar ways to what you describe your car as doing.

ON EDIT: In order to run properly, your engine needs three things...fuel, fire, and air. The fuel is your gas...air is self explanatory, and the fire is your spark, from your spark plugs. When one or more of those three essentials are not in correct balance, it will often cause rough riding, rough idling. Often, very minor car problems ACT like major car problems. A lot of unscrupulous mechanics DEPEND on that very thing to rip people off, because they (people) are so helpless now when their car fucks up...and, people tend to freak out over that Check Engine light. Unscrupulous mechanics tend to take advantage of that tendency towards freaking out.

I know this because, being a woman, I have had to learn to educate myself, somewhat, on cars...just in order to avoid being ripped off by mechanics.

Fuel injector? Really? I was thinking blown head gasket or something.

No. Blown head gasket, you would not be able to start the car at all. A compression test would eliminate that possibility for you.

Thanks for the help folks. Especially Lyric.

I'm so gonna kick god's ass for this.
*hides behind Neo K*

NEVAR! ;)

Thanks for the help folks. Especially Lyric.
No problem. Just passing on the wisdom I have learned from experience with shitty cars. Have driven my share of them. And had the problems I mentioned. It's worth checking out...and, truly...more often than not, the check engine light is nothing to get your undies in a bunch over...it's usually the environmental controls that set off that fecking light.

BTW, I notice you have a link to WeirdNJ. Are you a resident of NJ...if so...what exit?? :D
I, myself, live in eastern Pennsylvania, less than 10 miles from the Jersey border, so I'm just curious.

Incidentally, if they still sell that goddamn oxygenated fuel in NJ, that could be a source of problems, too. The additives in that shit will clog your intake valves. You can have them cleaned out, and that will often solve problems, too. Didn't notice the NJ first time I posted. But that oxygenated shit causes any number of nasty deposits to be left to build up in your air-intake valves. And then it chokes off your engine's air supply.

Oh, one more quick thought...try also changing your PCV valve. That is a 5 dollar part, and can also cause some of the problems you are talking about. Your PCV valve gets clogged full of oil and dirt, and if you haven't changed it in a while, you should. It'll improve your gas mileage, too.

No problem. Just passing on the wisdom I have learned from experience with shitty cars. Have driven my share of them. And had the problems I mentioned. It's worth checking out...and, truly...more often than not, the check engine light is nothing to get your undies in a bunch over...it's usually the environmental controls that set off that fecking light.

BTW, I notice you have a link to WeirdNJ. Are you a resident of NJ...if so...what exit?? :D
I, myself, live in eastern Pennsylvania, less than 10 miles from the Jersey border, so I'm just curious.

Incidentally, if they still sell that goddamn oxygenated fuel in NJ, that could be a source of problems, too. The additives in that shit will clog your intake valves. You can have them cleaned out, and that will often solve problems, too. Didn't notice the NJ first time I posted. But that oxygenated shit causes any number of nasty deposits to be left to build up in your air-intake valves. And then it chokes off your engine's air supply.

Oh, one more quick thought...try also changing your PCV valve. That is a 5 dollar part, and can also cause some of the problems you are talking about. Your PCV valve gets clogged full of oil and dirt, and if you haven't changed it in a while, you should. It'll improve your gas mileage, too.
Yeah, I'm from Trenton, turnpike exit 13 I believe. What town in PA are you from? Thanks again for the advice.

Yeah, I'm from Trenton, turnpike exit 13 I believe. What town in PA are you from? Thanks again for the advice.
I am living in a little town in the foothills of the Pocono Mountains. It's probably about 70 miles north of Philly. Maybe about 30 miles northeast of Allentown, PA.

If you blinked your eyes, you'd miss the whole damn town, it's that small. Which is why I call it Bumfucktu, PA.

Only $5,300.OH BURN!!! I bought a firefly last winter for $900, runs like it was just out of the factory.

I think you got ripped off pretty bad. My suggestion would be leaving your car unlock, let the burgular steal it, collect insurance $$$ :D Happens to my teacher one time.

OH BURN!!! I bought a firefly last winter for $900, runs like it was just out of the factory.

I think you got ripped off pretty bad. My suggestion would be leaving your car unlock, let the burgular steal it, collect insurance $$$ :D Happens to my teacher one time.

Reminds me of some friends of mine in San Antonio. They lived in a rough neighborhood, where a lot of drunk drivers would come through, and they kept parying that their car, which was fucked up, and didn't run...would get hit so they could collect on the insurance.

One night, their prayers were answered. a loud crash outside their window. They both said...yes, hit the white one...THE WHITE ONE!! They looked out their window, sure as shit, their car was smashed to shit....and they got insurance money to buy a working car, and saved the money on engine repair!! LOL!!!