My first trip to the shop

[ebristol]

On my way home from work today my car started hesitating again. It has happened 4 or 5 other times right after I start my car for the first time of the day. Normally it goes away after 1/2 a mile of driving.

Today, it lasted for about 3 miles and I threw a cel so I brought it to the dealership. They pulled the code and it was a misfire on the 4th cylinder. They didn't have time to troubleshoot it today so they hooked me up with a rental and sent me on my way. I only have 2300 miles on my car.

Im hoping my visits to the Saturn dealership are limited with my RL. I had an 04 ION3 QC with a Vti tranny so I am no stranger to the Saturn Service Center! I'll let you guys no how it turns out. I miss not being able to jump in my car whenever I want!

[ebristol]

I forgot to tell everyone about my service guy. Over the phone I told the guy that I was getting hesitation and that I threw a cel and I wanted to drop off the car.

So when I get to the service desk he asks me if my cell phone still works.... I was like "What....?" He was like "Well you said you threw a cell." I replied "As cel I meant my check engine light came on." All he said was "Oh..".

When I left the dealership he told me that cel code was a P0404 - Misfire in 4th cylinder. It was actually a P0304.



On a side note, the guy was promoted from the Oil Change Service desk to the Big Boy Service desk so he has to be good!!!

[Caboose]

i pray your car comes out in one peice...this guy sounds like a winner to me.

[ebristol]

fingers crossed, X.

I still have not heard back from them yet. They said they needed about 2 hours to dignose the code.

I missed my car over the weekend. I saw more civics, cobalts and mitzus over the weekend then I have in the last 2 months! I don't have any notable kills or defeats on my record. I would have been piling them up!

[ebristol]

Ok here is the deal.

Saturn guy (Mike) says that they found a bulletin for my hesitation problem which they think is cause by low fuel flow. So they did a fuel injector cleaning service on the car. He also asked if my car sat for a while because he said it was possible the injectors got gummed up. The car was only driven 400 miles from 2/06 to 2/07. It very possible that some of the gas that was in there was from the original fill up.

So this is good news for now. I am excited to find out if it runs any better!

BTW: Caboose, you are by far today’s biggest post whore!! You seem to have your nose in every active thread. You will be a post whore level 3 status in no time!

[ebristol]

Well my problem came back. The service guy said the tech thinks I might have gotten a bad tank of gas or the old gas in my car have fouled my plugs. So they are going to order some new ones for me and my car will have to stay at the shop for a couple more days. Which is no problem since it is freaken snowing again!!!

[hawlyns711]

nice. i know how it feels to not have your car. when they gave me a rental, i couldn't drive it cause i wasn't old enough. at least its snowing out.

[Mattman6]

snow wow that sucks, no snow here all year

[ebristol]

I got my car back today. They said that the fuel tested "low in quality". So they drained the tank, refilled the car with gas, replaced the spark plugs and did a fuel injector cleaning again.

It seems to run better then when I first bought it. So I think they got it right this time. Time will tell...

They guy at the service center said that the 2.0 and the 2.4 ecotecs are very finnicky with fuel. Esp the 2.4s....

Is there a way that I can test fuel for quality? I think I might be getting bad gas from my local station. I would like to test it against other stations with out having to run a full tank through my car. Any suggestions???

[socalsilverRL]

^log knock and timing advance...thats all i can think... stick to top tier companies i.e. Shell, Mobil, Chevron ect...avoid 'discount' chains that add water/detergent to raise octane...i.e. BP, Arco, Valero...

( i kno water doesnt add octane, im being facetious)