Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Think my plan for the cheaper option is smart ?

Took my car into the dealership due to the check engine light being on(been on for a while) and an intermittent oil light coming on

Apparently, I have multiple engine error codes: O2 Sensor, EGR, Misfire

They want to replace the O2 sensor
Replace the upper and lower intake gaskets
new plugs and wires
new fuel filter
perform fuel injector service.

$1300



Does this sound like an appropriate cost for this service?

And yes, I took my car to a local mechanic instead of a dealer and he said that I would have to drop the engine to change the oil pressure sender. I lost all faith in his ability/integrity and took my car to a dealer to get a proper diagnosis...

I picked up my car from the dealer. Here is a more detailed diagnosis:

error codes:
P0155 - Heated O2 Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction (Bank 2, Sensor 1)
P0303 - Cylinder #3 Misfire Detected
P0401 - EGR Flow Insufficient Detected

One of the intake gaskets is leaking and needs to be replaced. you have to replace both if you do one. This leak is causing the engine to run rich/lean/rich/lean/rich/lean. This may have caused the other problems. A new O2 sensor, plugs, wires and fuel injector service are needed. The oil light problem is caused by a faulty switch.

I then brought my car to Autozone and it only showed 2 codes:
P0155 - Heated O2 Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction (Bank 2, Sensor 1)
P0303 - Cylinder #3 Misfire Detected

I am thinking of finding a local (cheaper) mechanic to replace the O2 sensor, plugs wires and oil sensor and see how it goes. I bought some fuel injector cleaner for $3...

all that can be done yourself for less than 200 bucks

I agree with gearhead. The upper/lower intake gaskets can seem like a real pain but is in fact pretty easy. can be done with just a cuople sockets and a fuel line disonnecter. you can do the egr while your doing that along with the pllugs and wires, also the o2 sensor isn't hard, neither is the fuel filter. If you have a mild sense of mechanics i'd say save $1000 and do it yourself.

I also agree. If you got some good tools, someone to help you (just becuase, makes things easier) and weekend, take care of it all yourself. Make sure you line up everything you need (all gaskets, parts, and such) before you start to tear down the engine. Read the how-to in the how-to section for rebuilding the UIM/LIM

You dont even need to disconnect the fuel line. Just lay the rail off to the side in the engine bay on a rag.

If you were running rich\lean I would expect to see those codes as well P0171\P0174 I think. The lack of these codes leads me to believe that the gasket leak is a bunch of BS.

thanks guys

Todras, check ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^the above post^^^^^^^^^^^^^ out

Got my car back yesterday. $600 got me new plugs, wires, fuel filter, oil sender switch, O2 sensors. Yes, I know I could do it for 1/3 that myself, but I don't have a driveway or time on the weekends to play with my car...

I started the car and the check engine light was still on... I figured the computer needed resetting, so I pulled the fuse and all was well - for about 5 miles. The check engine light returned and the oil light problem is still there.

Oil Light problem details: As the engine warms up, the light comes on. If I go past 1500 rpm it goes off. As I drive, the rpm threshold keeps rising until the light stays on. At the end of my commute when I get off the highway, the threshold drops again. very weird phenomenom...

The mechanic called to see fi I was happy and I told him no. He is going to run a full diagnostic when I bring my car back to him. At some level, this is generous of him as I brought my car in and told them what to do with it rather than him diagnosing the problem and recommending a solution that didn't work. Nevertheless, for $600, I am going to get my money's worth.

Any thoughts on the root causes of my problems without further info?