Me again, asking for free mechanical advice . . .

[Crackpot]

Alot of vehicles will reset after so long if it is a one time problem Im not sure if it keeps the codes stored tho.

[Jarlaxle]

Anything OBD2 (post-1995) should store codes unless the computer is reset of the battery disconnected.

[BoSoxGal]

Do I need to check it? It's running fine again. I thought about the wet thing - we don't get much wet weather, but it's been on and off freezing at night. More importantly, this happened just after I filled the tank and I'm wondering if I got some crappy gas that choked the engine briefly.

[Timster]

Do I need to check it? It's running fine again. I thought about the wet thing - we don't get much wet weather, but it's been on and off freezing at night. More importantly, this happened just after I filled the tank and I'm wondering if I got some crappy gas that choked the engine briefly.

.

Okay. Are we still talking about cars...

[quaddriver]

the light may be off, but the code should be stored. and dont be surprised if your purge valve stuck when you got gas

[dales]

ditto

[Crackpot]

If you can get it checked for free do it. it costs you nothing and might save you a bundle in the long run by catching a potentially major problem early.

[Rick]

Do I need to check it? It's running fine again. I thought about the wet thing - we don't get much wet weather, but it's been on and off freezing at night. More importantly, this happened just after I filled the tank and I'm wondering if I got some crappy gas that choked the engine briefly.

When filling yer tank once the nozzle hits shut off do NOT try to get that last little bit.

Take the nozzle out and put it back in it's cradle, in some vehicle the extra gas gets into the anti pollution stuff and will make it run ruff...

[BoSoxGal]

I NEVER top off; it's bad for the environment!

But come to think of it, the last time I filled up, I set the little auto-shut-off doohickey, and it didn't trigger - so I ended up with gas overflow. Luckily I was standing right there and could manually shut off.

So, it DID get filled right up. Maybe that's what made it spit, sputter & choke.

Anyway, I plan to stop by AutoZone tomorrow are lunch, or Saturday morning, depending on how crazy tomorrow is - today's been NUTS!

[Jarlaxle]

BSG, I am blaming you for this! The CEL on my Cherokee came on today!

I'm not saying you had anything to do with it...I am just blaming you.

[BoSoxGal]

Happens to the best of us!

I still haven't found time to get mine checked, but I need to soon. It's getting awful gas mileage so I'm guessing it needs another O2 sensor.

Good luck with yours!

[BoSoxGal]

Filled up with gas last night. This morning the car is spitting and sputtering & the check engine light comes back on. I take it to the auto parts place & the guy pulls the code. It's an O2 sensor - but there are three on the car and his computer isn't fancy enough to say which one.

I'm in to the mechanic with it next week. Wish me luck!

[Jarlaxle]

Do you know anyone with any mechanical skills & tools? If so, you need to offer him a 12-pack or something, this can save you serious cash.

O2 sensor 101: there are really only two basic types (regular & heated, I suspect yours uses a heated sensor), ALL are one or the other. Prices vary wildly, from $20 or so to $200+. They all do the same thing, most have the same thread size, the only difference is type (note: one can replace a nonheated sensor with a heated one by simply not connecting the heater wiring), wire color, and cost. A sensor can usually be gotten cheap off eBay or one of the online part shops, rather than forking over three times the coin at NAPA (or ten times the coin at a dealer). The only downside being: the installer might have to, rather than plugging it in, cut and splice a couple of wires (a ten-minute job).

And make absolutely sure that he knows to put the special thread compound (included with many sensors...if not, $5 at any part store) on before installing it! If he forgets, you will never get it out again without cutting the pipe.

On a mundane note, I learned two things yesterday: my Cherokee's CEL was a coolant over-temp code...the guy cleared it, I suspect it's a glitch, possibly an air pocket in the system, since the gauge never topped 210 degrees. (Normal on the hot-running 4 litre Cherokee.) Worst case, I need a coolant temp sensor...on a Cherokee, that's about $20 and about a ten-minute job. (It screws in and is right on the top of the engine, easily accesssible.) I also learned that I REALLY need to buy myself an OBD2 code scanner.

[Rick]

OBD2

Boy aren't you lucky!

All the OB1s are gone...

[quaddriver]

post the Pxxxx code. the code itself, and knowledge of the year/make model tells me what bank and upstream or downstream

he has a very crappy reader!

for example (just a small subset)
P0130 02 Sensor Circuit Malfunction (Bank I Sensor 1)
P0131 02 Sensor Circuit Low Voltage (Bank I Sensor I)
P0132 02 Sensor Circuit High Voltage (Bank I Sensor 1)
P0133 02 Sensor Circuit Slow Response (Bank 1 Sensor 1)
P0134 02 Sensor Circuit No Activity Detected (Bank I Sensor 1)
P0135 02 Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1 Sensor 1)
P0136 02 Sensor Circuit Malfunction (Bank I Sensor 2)
P0137 02 Sensor Circuit Low Voltage (Bank I Sensor 2)
P0138 02 Sensor Circuit High Voltage (Bank I Sensor 2)
P0139 02 Sensor Circuit Slow Response (Bank 1 Sensor 2)
P0140 02 Sensor Circuit No Activity Detected (Bank 1 Sensor 2)
P0141 02 Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1 Sensor 2)
P0142 02 Sensor Circuit Malfunction (Bank I Sensor 3)
P0143 02 Sensor Circuit Low Voltage (Bank I Sensor 3)
P0144 02 Sensor Circuit High Voltage (Bank I Sensor 3)
P0145 02 Sensor Circuit Slow Response (Bank 1 Sensor 3)
P0146 02 Sensor Circuit No Activity Detected (Bank I Sensor 3)
P0147 02 Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction (Bank I Sensor 3)

[BoSoxGal]

He cleared it. It was one of those first, with a 3 in it - I think it was P0130. I looked over his shoulder.

It's a Rav4 1999.

Last time I needed an O2 sensor I got it from Toyota. It wasn't that expensive. I don't have a mechanic friend to do it for me, so I'll have to pay a couple of hours labor. Last time my then BF put it in; let's just say I'd rather pay for labor than pay that price again.

[Jarlaxle]

the code itself, and knowledge of the year/make model tells me what bank and upstream or downstream

Only one "bank", it's a 4-banger.

[loCAtek]

OBD2

Boy aren't you lucky!

All the OB1s are gone...

Not quite,

Old Jedi never die they just fade away ...and come back as ghosts.

[quaddriver]

well the code you posted and the 4cyl toy means its the first O2S should you place fingertips on the exhaust manifold and trace rearward until you find wires.

rockauto.com has perhaps the best price.

not a hard replace. if they charge a couple hours prosecute them for being douches.

[Jarlaxle]

Been a while since I checked a 1G Rav4, but I recall Toyota likes heat shields...wonder if the one on the manifold might have to come off to get at the sensor.