easygoing
New CEG'er
My Ford Contour 95 had engine stall in a rainstorm. After the mechanic do a tune-up to change oil, spark plug, and coils, the car stalled right at the garage's parking lot, with the exactly same symptom. The mechanic took another day to fix the car, and did not change extra. Well, I need to drive it longer to make sure that the stalling was fixed.
Several days ago there is a big snowstorm in Boston, and it later turned into rainstorm. I had to drive through deep puddles and some completely submerged streets. Just when I feel lucky that I did not have the usually battery light-freezing steering problem when water splashed over the belt, I saw the red battery light and oil light (on the right upper corner) went on, and yellow check engine light also on. The engine stopped, and I glided to a halt in an intersection. I can start the engine for a second, even move one yard or two, then the engine will shut off. I did this two times, and decided to wait quietly for AAA to tow me to the garage.
While waiting to be towed, I opened the hood and felt that the engine temperature is normal. But around two poles of battery there were two pools of dark red fluid.
I had the AAA to tow my car to the same garage that I changed water pump and engine oil in the previous day. I could not imagine that the engine oil and water pump has anything to do with engine stalling, so I think that this engine stalling just another problem popping up in the same week.
With the car in garage, the mechanic told me that my car need $275 tune-up and $100 transmission oil change. I simply cannot image how engine stall caused by flooding will require a transmission oil change. So I insisted on tune-up only, which is supposedly to get water from engine, oil, and change rusted wires. I have doubt on tune-up, but I decided to listen to the mechanic. If $275 can get my car running again, I do not want to make a fuss.
My wife went to pick up the car, and before she could back out of the garage's parking lot, the car stalled again, with the same set of warning lights. Somehow the mechanic could still start the car again, and drive into the repair bay.
Today my wife was told that the car is fixed, after some sensor change. The mechanic decided not to charge extra. Despite my wife's repeated questioning, the mechanic did not want to give more information.
Now it is clear that the mechanic used the rule of thumb for most flooded cars and prescribed tune-up. It is also clear that my problem has nothing to do with tune-up.
Could anybody shed light on this mysterious problem, and the mysterious "free" repair? Is there anything I can do to prevent this kind of horrible problem?
Several days ago there is a big snowstorm in Boston, and it later turned into rainstorm. I had to drive through deep puddles and some completely submerged streets. Just when I feel lucky that I did not have the usually battery light-freezing steering problem when water splashed over the belt, I saw the red battery light and oil light (on the right upper corner) went on, and yellow check engine light also on. The engine stopped, and I glided to a halt in an intersection. I can start the engine for a second, even move one yard or two, then the engine will shut off. I did this two times, and decided to wait quietly for AAA to tow me to the garage.
While waiting to be towed, I opened the hood and felt that the engine temperature is normal. But around two poles of battery there were two pools of dark red fluid.
I had the AAA to tow my car to the same garage that I changed water pump and engine oil in the previous day. I could not imagine that the engine oil and water pump has anything to do with engine stalling, so I think that this engine stalling just another problem popping up in the same week.
With the car in garage, the mechanic told me that my car need $275 tune-up and $100 transmission oil change. I simply cannot image how engine stall caused by flooding will require a transmission oil change. So I insisted on tune-up only, which is supposedly to get water from engine, oil, and change rusted wires. I have doubt on tune-up, but I decided to listen to the mechanic. If $275 can get my car running again, I do not want to make a fuss.
My wife went to pick up the car, and before she could back out of the garage's parking lot, the car stalled again, with the same set of warning lights. Somehow the mechanic could still start the car again, and drive into the repair bay.
Today my wife was told that the car is fixed, after some sensor change. The mechanic decided not to charge extra. Despite my wife's repeated questioning, the mechanic did not want to give more information.
Now it is clear that the mechanic used the rule of thumb for most flooded cars and prescribed tune-up. It is also clear that my problem has nothing to do with tune-up.
Could anybody shed light on this mysterious problem, and the mysterious "free" repair? Is there anything I can do to prevent this kind of horrible problem?