I was having a problem where I couldn’t start my car. It needed about 6 attempts to finally get it started for 2 days, and on the second day, the yellow engine light warning was on. I drove it to a nearby mechanic, and while driving there, the car was jerking at high RPM.
When I reached the mechanic, I told him about the problem, and he then tried to find out the problem with his tablet hooked up to the car, but no error code popped up, so he just reset it, followed by turning the car off and on. But now, while at the mechanic, the car could start and stop on the first attempt without any issue. He then took it for a drive, and it was fine.
He told me if the problem comes back, to just bring the car back as he could not find any problem. It has been a week now, and the car has been starting and running fine, anyone experienced this before? I’m still worried that those problems would reappear someday soon, and I’m also wondering if I should do a long-distance trip with this car or if it is better to take the plane?
Do plane trip or car rental.. You don't want a dead car in the sticks without cell service.
What did he reset?
The yellow engine light warning.
If he disconnected the battery to reset the warning light, it’s very possible that it reset something that has an issue that will return. I’m glad for you that your vehicle is running smooth now. But the “try unplugging it and restart it and see what happens” is seldom a cure for a real issue. Way back in the day, I had a 1990 Ford Probe that had a fuel pump issue. But every time I took it to my small town mechanic at the time, the car would run fine. Finally one day it did reveal itself to him. Fuel pumps can be very fickle. Plus we don’t know if you have a 1992 Chevy Cavalier or a 2020 Jeep Cherokee. lol.
No the reset the warning light by doing something on his tablet which he connected to the car.
So he never actually disconnected your battery? He just had you plugged into his tablet, and reset the light?
I’d still be very cautious. It sounds like a fuel pump to me. But it should have thrown a code. But a fuel filter can make it act way too. A fuel filter is a lot cheaper than a pump, and generally easier to get to. But if it’s running good and no light, just keep an eye on things. I wouldn’t take on a long distance trip until I knew for sure it was more than a “if it does it again, bring it back”.
Yup that’s all he did. Even though it been running normally for about a week since, I don’t feel at ease one bit.
You’re definitely right to not feel at ease. How much do you trust your mechanic? Like when I walk into my main mechanic shop, they’re like hey Mark what’s up? This mechanic isn’t trying to screw you of course. He didn’t really do anything lol. I’m curious if it’s a shop you really trust, some place you just went to, or your cousin Fred’s garage? Not all problems show up all the time. But do you have 100% full faith in their ability? An easy option is to take it somewhere else for a free or cheap diagnostic test.
lol I don’t know him at all. Only reason I went to him was because he was the nearest. Google reviews of him seem so so. Thanks for replying and the advice on this topic.
I would honestly get a second opinion somewhere. You are doing the right things now. But I would definitely avoid a long trip in this vehicle until I had complete faith in it. It’s one thing to be across town and break down. It’s a whole other thing to be in St. Louis and break down when you live in like Baton Rouge.
Thank you.
Crazy he didn’t run any tests. How was fuel pressure, what were the error codes?
He said there was no error from what his tablet told him? lol sorry I don’t know much about cars.
What year/make/model/engine? That will help
Check your battery connections. If they're loose, c there's your problem.
Helpful if we knew your make year model. Sounds like it could be a bad ground or timing issue or transmission but there’s no info here besides your mechanic being shitty
Sorry it’s a Toyota vios, I think the year is 2017. Mechanic did a bad job in your opinion?