Shit that annoys you

[wyeaster]

Please don't do this if you *actually* are throwing an emission code. Get it fixed.

I can't even believe I need to say this, to be honest.

you really can't believe it?

[4matic]

Ugh. I feel your pain. I swear, if the US had licensing standards like ze Germans do, at least 80% of our drivers would lose their driving privileges, and deservedly so.

Same with gun laws. Right?

[skaredshtles]

Same with gun laws. Right?

[evdog]

Please don't do this if you *actually* are throwing an emission code. Get it fixed.

I can't even believe I need to say this, to be honest.

Like I said my shop ran some tests, didn't find anything malfunctioning. Cat was storing O2 like it is supposed to. This doesn't mean there isn't something wrong but they would need to do more tests. Check engine light has been coming on for a few weeks or so then turning off for a few weeks or so, randomly. I have had the error code cleared a few times - sometimes it has come right back on, others it hasn't come back on for weeks. I generally agree with the above that if there really is an issue, get it fixed. Until a test shows there is a real issue I'm not going to spend a bunch of money to fix something that isn't definitely an issue. If the error code is clear when I go for the smog test and it fails based on excess emissions, then it will have to be fixed. But if there isn't really an issue and it fails to due error code when the check engine light comes on right before the test, then that is something to be annoyed at.

[4matic]

Like I said my shop ran some tests, didn't find anything malfunctioning. Cat was storing O2 like it is supposed to. This doesn't mean there isn't something wrong but they would need to do more tests. Check engine light has been coming on for a few weeks or so then turning off for a few weeks or so, randomly. I have had the error code cleared a few times - sometimes it has come right back on, others it hasn't come back on for weeks. I generally agree with the above that if there really is an issue, get it fixed. Until a test shows there is a real issue I'm not going to spend a bunch of money to fix something that isn't definitely an issue. If the error code is clear when I go for the smog test and it fails based on excess emissions, then it will have to be fixed. But if there isn't really an issue and it fails to due error code when the check engine light comes on right before the test, then that is something to be annoyed at. Because having an active error code automatically fails you whether the truck is spewing excess emissions or not. When I lived in BC you would get a conditional one-year pass after spending $350 or so. I think that is more reasonable. In CA if you fail emissions you can't renew registration period. Unless your vehicle is exempted in which case you can pollute all you want.

Try a high quality fuel additive and premium fuel. Run it pinned near the redline. It’s worth a shot

[Timberridge]

Run it pinned near the redline.

...until the exhaust manifold glows cherry red.

[skaredshtles]

O3’ shitton of miles with the D light blinking. tech once told me to just put a smiley sticker over it if the blink bothered me.

Yup. Same transmission. '01 Odyssey with eleventy billion miles. Gonna drive it until it dies...

[riser4]

Car is running perfectly one day then 5 different warning lights pop up when I started it yesterday Airbag, ABS, TPMS and traction control all managed to fail at the same time. The price I pay for insisting on owning a fickle German car.

Ya, I don't willingly drive a VW if it isn't under fulll warranty.

[Dantheman]

Same with gun laws. Right?

10/10

[riser4]

No silly, I looked it up only now I can't find where I read (or thought I read, d'oh!) that it has something to do with student loans but I did find this article:

Mandarin robocalls are flooding US cities. It’s a scam to get bank information, officials say

Seems like they'd have better luck if I could actually understand WTF they are saying. Hit rate for a fluent Mandarin speaker in the 802 is going to be very low.

[old goat]

Never been an issue for me! (This was on my old Mazda 3) It was simply a finicky, malfunctioning sensor. Sometimes I'd drive another 1000+ miles before the light would return.

The smog test where they shove the sensor into your tailpipe and do all the thorough testing has been enough proof for me that my car was totally fine in all actuality. Definitely worth a shot to clear the code before spending thousands on resolving the magical intermittent gremlin. Especially on old cars.

Now if you clear the code and it comes right back on? Then yeah, got to dive deeper and fix the problem, but its definitely worth a shot. Also worth pulling your own codes so YOU know what's up before taking it to those idiots at the inspection station trying to force you to do a bunch of possibly unnecessary repairs. Had too many shops try to screw me over to trust them. "Sir, you're CEL's on. It needs XYZ." Always nice to say, "I don't think so. It has a P0XX code. That means it needs this, and not that." Always nice to be armed with information.

Either way, pull the code and know what's up BEFORE going to the inspection station and being at their mercy.

seems to me Autozone or somebody like that will run codes for you for free?

Re the wife's suby--turns out a quart and a third low, not catastrophic. I guess subaru knows there are a lot of drivers like my wife. Separate oil level and oil pressure lights. Still, she doesn't know when the oil was last checked or when it was last serviced. Since that car has a 100K PT warranty (Subaru extended it due to history of oil loss problems with her year) it would be nice if she could document a good maintenance history.

[PB]

Seems like they'd have better luck if I could actually understand WTF they are saying. Hit rate for a fluent Mandarin speaker in the 802 is going to be very low.

And they're incredibly persistent fuckers, too. I've blocked at least 20 different numbers/area codes all coming in with the same scam. The first three syllables are similar, anyway.

[riser4]

And they're incredibly persistent fuckers, too. I've blocked at least 20 different numbers/area codes all coming in with the same scam. The first three syllables are similar, anyway.

I was actually wondering if it was more sinister than a scam. disguise an intelligence op using a phone scam as cover for contacting your operatives.

[Timberridge]

Seems like they'd have better luck if I could actually understand WTF they are saying. Hit rate for a fluent Mandarin speaker in the 802 is going to be very low.

Just start screaming, "Goddammit, I fucking ordered the vegetarian egg roll. This has pork or some shit in it."

[MontuckyFried]

seems to me Autozone or somebody like that will run codes for you for free?

True. They will. I just hate making the trek over there. Been awesome having my own OBD scanner! Especially since CEL's have become a way of life for me with how old my cars are. REALLY nice to know if it's something important or something I can put off. Got a bad coil pack recently. Ran the scanner. Said it was cylinder #3. Boom. Easy swap and good to go. Forget having to pay a mechanic to tell me something I can figure out in 2 seconds.

[riser4]

Just start screaming, "Goddammit, I fucking ordered the vegetarian egg roll. This has pork or some shit in it."

I'm not from Rutland County. Otherwise, that's funny and a great idea.

[KQ]

Hand-lines, channellocks, non-standard parts

[riser4]

[evdog]

FFS, if you're going to leave a voicemail with contact info talk slowly and clearly enough that I can write down that info without having to listen to the message 7-8 times to piece it together.

[jackstraw]

FFS, if you're going to leave a voicemail with contact info talk slowly and clearly enough that I can write down that info without having to listen to the message 7-8 times to piece it together.

That drives me nuts also. You really appreciate when someone leaves a good message ending with their name and number for the second time. It seems like common sense in the business world.

[Mustonen]

Gotcha people at work. Critique that isn’t really presented in the spirit of constructive improvement, but that’s the product of a diligent and exhaustive study for petty errors. It’s a game I resist playing; I take comfort in knowing that I would obliterate them in that short term battle if I joined it, but that I choose to focus on the longer term instead.

[jackstraw]

gunflakes transitioning a thread to make it about them.

[Vt-Freeheel]

FFS, if you're going to leave a voicemail with contact info talk slowly and clearly enough that I can write down that info without having to listen to the message 7-8 times to piece it together.

FedEx left me a message and she reeled off the 10 digit ref. number like an auctioneer. bitch

[Danno]

Like I said my shop ran some tests, didn't find anything malfunctioning. Cat was storing O2 like it is supposed to. This doesn't mean there isn't something wrong but they would need to do more tests. Check engine light has been coming on for a few weeks or so then turning off for a few weeks or so, randomly. I have had the error code cleared a few times - sometimes it has come right back on, others it hasn't come back on for weeks. I generally agree with the above that if there really is an issue, get it fixed. Until a test shows there is a real issue I'm not going to spend a bunch of money to fix something that isn't definitely an issue. If the error code is clear when I go for the smog test and it fails based on excess emissions, then it will have to be fixed. But if there isn't really an issue and it fails to due error code when the check engine light comes on right before the test, then that is something to be annoyed at.

My wife's never been flipped Honda Pilot has an issue like that. A generic check engine light comes on, but the dealer can't really figure out what's wrong, thinks it relates to the catalytic converter (if memory serves) but wasn't sure. If the code is cleared, sometimes it will be weeks before it comes back. And the car passes emissions inspection. So yeah, not gonna spend $$$ to fix something that may or may not be the problem, when the car is passing emissions tests.

[Flyoverland Captive]

Hosting a small crew for dinner; mellow ambient music is playing (Thom Brennan), but somebody hit the random button on the iPad that controls the music. The song concludes as we’re all chilling, and up next... it’s Naked City!

Or maybe this amuses me.