Car won't pass inspection
Car won't pass inspection
Ugh...my 2004 Crossfire needs to be inspected but it won't pass because of 2 problems: one is that the 'check engine' light is on, and the other is that one of the headlights is out.
When I went to have the bulb replaced, the guy told me that it's not the lightbulb, there's something wrong with the wiring. It will cost $110 just to diagnose the headlight problem. It may cost around $200 - $700 to fix the engine light issue. A guy offered to get rid of the light but I'm guessing that's not totally legal and I didn't get the impression his guys knew what they were doing with the car, so I'm not sure I trust him. He's not the one who told me about the headlight, btw.
Is this kind of thing standard with these cars? Does anyone have any suggestions about any of these things? I've already gotten a ticket for my sticker being expired. I need to get this taken care of. Thanks for your help.
When I went to have the bulb replaced, the guy told me that it's not the lightbulb, there's something wrong with the wiring. It will cost $110 just to diagnose the headlight problem. It may cost around $200 - $700 to fix the engine light issue. A guy offered to get rid of the light but I'm guessing that's not totally legal and I didn't get the impression his guys knew what they were doing with the car, so I'm not sure I trust him. He's not the one who told me about the headlight, btw.
Is this kind of thing standard with these cars? Does anyone have any suggestions about any of these things? I've already gotten a ticket for my sticker being expired. I need to get this taken care of. Thanks for your help.
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Re: Car won't pass inspection
First, do you know what code is being thrown for the check engine light? If not, go to your nearest AutoZone and have them hook up their ODBII code reader to your car. This is a free service that AutoZone provides. Post the code on here, and we can let you know what is causing the check engine light and what it would cost to fix it. Also, I would be highly suspicious of the guy that told you that you have a wiring problem with the headlight. What did he do to deduce this?
There are several knowledgeable members that live in your area. Maybe one of them can help you diagnose the headlight issue.
There are several knowledgeable members that live in your area. Maybe one of them can help you diagnose the headlight issue.
Last edited by bmorgan; 09-19-2010 at 12:35 PM.
Re: Car won't pass inspection
Originally Posted by bmorgan
First, do you know what code is being thrown for the check engine light? If not, go to your nearest AutoZone and have them hook up their ODBII code reader to your car. This is a free service that AutoZone provides. Post the code on here, and we can let you know what is causing the check engine light and what it would cost to fix it. Also, I would be highly suspicious of the guy that told you that you have a wiring problem with the headlight. What did he do to deduce this?
There are several knowledgeable members that live in your area. Maybe one of them can help you diagnose the headlight issue.
There are several knowledgeable members that live in your area. Maybe one of them can help you diagnose the headlight issue.
Re: Car won't pass inspection
Originally Posted by bmorgan
First, do you know what code is being thrown for the check engine light? If not, go to your nearest AutoZone and have them hook up their ODBII code reader to your car. This is a free service that AutoZone provides. Post the code on here, and we can let you know what is causing the check engine light and what it would cost to fix it.
Re: Car won't pass inspection
Originally Posted by SpeedDemon
Ugh...my 2004 Crossfire needs to be inspected but it won't pass because of 2 problems: one is that the 'check engine' light is on, and the other is that one of the headlights is out.
When I went to have the bulb replaced, the guy told me that it's not the lightbulb, there's something wrong with the wiring. It will cost $110 just to diagnose the headlight problem. It may cost around $200 - $700 to fix the engine light issue. A guy offered to get rid of the light but I'm guessing that's not totally legal and I didn't get the impression his guys knew what they were doing with the car, so I'm not sure I trust him. He's not the one who told me about the headlight, btw.
Is this kind of thing standard with these cars? Does anyone have any suggestions about any of these things? I've already gotten a ticket for my sticker being expired. I need to get this taken care of. Thanks for your help.
When I went to have the bulb replaced, the guy told me that it's not the lightbulb, there's something wrong with the wiring. It will cost $110 just to diagnose the headlight problem. It may cost around $200 - $700 to fix the engine light issue. A guy offered to get rid of the light but I'm guessing that's not totally legal and I didn't get the impression his guys knew what they were doing with the car, so I'm not sure I trust him. He's not the one who told me about the headlight, btw.
Is this kind of thing standard with these cars? Does anyone have any suggestions about any of these things? I've already gotten a ticket for my sticker being expired. I need to get this taken care of. Thanks for your help.
Re: Car won't pass inspection
Originally Posted by onehundred80
Have you checked the fuses, there is one fuse for each headlight. So check the four fuses, they are on the drivers side end of dash. remove the panel cover and check them. If it is a blown fuse you may have to figure out what caused the blown fuse or you may be lucky and a new fuse will not blow.
I took my car over to AutoZone but for some reason the 'check engine' light was out and they said they couldn't check it unless it was on. I'll take it back when it comes on. If it doesn't come back on, I'll get it inspected once I get the light fixed.
Thanks, everyone.
Re: Car won't pass inspection
Originally Posted by SpeedDemon
No, I didn't check the fuse. I don't know anything about cars - I'll definitely check them. I hope that's the problem. Thank you!
I took my car over to AutoZone but for some reason the 'check engine' light was out and they said they couldn't check it unless it was on. I'll take it back when it comes on. If it doesn't come back on, I'll get it inspected once I get the light fixed.
Thanks, everyone.
I took my car over to AutoZone but for some reason the 'check engine' light was out and they said they couldn't check it unless it was on. I'll take it back when it comes on. If it doesn't come back on, I'll get it inspected once I get the light fixed.
Thanks, everyone.
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Re: Car won't pass inspection
Originally Posted by InfernoRedXfire
I've never heard of inspections in Texas not passing because the check engine light is on. Did they check your emissions? How did that measure?
Oh, and I was told that once they do a diagnostic on it, that info gets uploaded into a State database and they can track it from then on - two people told me that. So far it hasn't been uploaded. This is just a little bit too much 'big brother' stuff if you ask me.
Last edited by SpeedDemon; 09-19-2010 at 05:02 PM.
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Re: Car won't pass inspection
Originally Posted by onehundred80
The light does not have to be on. Once a code is set it remains in memory.
Re: Car won't pass inspection
I don't know what I'd do without this site. You guys are so extremely helpful. I drove over to Firestone today since the 'check engine' light was out - thinking I could get it inspected if they could fix the headlight that was out.
So I told the guy there what someone said that possibly a fuse was out. He said that with only one light out, it couldn't be the fuse. I was about to accept that but I knew that you guys would've told me that so I asked 'are you sure?' Plus, I know that most normal rules don't apply when it comes to the Crossfire. He said that in 30 yrs of dealing with cars, he's never seen separate fuses for each light. But he looked at the car's manual and said that the car did indeed have a separate fuse for each light. He had a guy go out and look at it and after he played with the fuses for a second, the light came on! He said that he pulled out the extra fuse and used that one, and the light worked; then he put the other fuse back in and it still worked. I can only guess that the fuse was loose, even though he said it was in very well. Anyway, you guys just saved me $110 to have that little problem checked.
My luck ran out, however, with the 'check engine' light because it decided to come back on. It was getting late by then so I didn't have time to go to AutoZone. I'll do that tomorrow.
Thanks so much for all your helpful comments.
So I told the guy there what someone said that possibly a fuse was out. He said that with only one light out, it couldn't be the fuse. I was about to accept that but I knew that you guys would've told me that so I asked 'are you sure?' Plus, I know that most normal rules don't apply when it comes to the Crossfire. He said that in 30 yrs of dealing with cars, he's never seen separate fuses for each light. But he looked at the car's manual and said that the car did indeed have a separate fuse for each light. He had a guy go out and look at it and after he played with the fuses for a second, the light came on! He said that he pulled out the extra fuse and used that one, and the light worked; then he put the other fuse back in and it still worked. I can only guess that the fuse was loose, even though he said it was in very well. Anyway, you guys just saved me $110 to have that little problem checked.
My luck ran out, however, with the 'check engine' light because it decided to come back on. It was getting late by then so I didn't have time to go to AutoZone. I'll do that tomorrow.
Thanks so much for all your helpful comments.
Re: Car won't pass inspection
If an error condition is intermittent the CEL may not always come on, but it would leave a pending error code in memory. If you drive the car enough to complete what is called a "drive cycle" which requires multiple driving conditions, and no error is registered, it will clear the prior error code. Autozone can clear the error codes after reading them, but if your state allows the on board ODBII emissions check (rather than tailpipe) it would not pass inspection without the drive cycle being completed.
Re: Car won't pass inspection
sounds a little like what may car be doing for last year or two check eng light come on. read the code it p2096 2098 the car dose not run any diff then before . reset it run for a week or two thin come back on.one of this days i will fork up 100.00 and have dealer tell what is . Oh by the the way this codes are not on the list that valk posted
Re: Car won't pass inspection
This is what I found. It could be an Oxygen sensor. Since it goes out from time to time I wonder if bad gas could cause the code? Run what's in the tank lout and fill up with premium (name brand, just in case) to see if the gas makes a difference.
Les
P2098=Post Catalyst Fuel Trim System Too Lean (Bank 2)
P2096 Post Catalytic Fuel Trim Bank 1 System Too Lean
Les
P2098=Post Catalyst Fuel Trim System Too Lean (Bank 2)
P2096 Post Catalytic Fuel Trim Bank 1 System Too Lean
Re: Car won't pass inspection
Originally Posted by velociabstract
This is what I found. It could be an Oxygen sensor. Since it goes out from time to time I wonder if bad gas could cause the code? Run what's in the tank lout and fill up with premium (name brand, just in case) to see if the gas makes a difference.
Les
P2098=Post Catalyst Fuel Trim System Too Lean (Bank 2)
P2096 Post Catalytic Fuel Trim Bank 1 System Too Lean
Les
P2098=Post Catalyst Fuel Trim System Too Lean (Bank 2)
P2096 Post Catalytic Fuel Trim Bank 1 System Too Lean
Seems more likely to be the oxygen sensor or the fuel management control system.
Re: Car won't pass inspection
Ok, so based on all the comments, and that it's probably the oxygen sensor or something like that, I'm assuming that I still need to get it checked at AutoZone, correct?
Just some history, I bought this car used about 3 yrs ago. Within about 3 mos of having it, the check engine light came on and, really, it has been on steady up until recently, when it's been going out. You'd think the bulb itself would've gone out by now - haha. Maybe that light runs on something charged by the battery, though, and it never burns out. Anyway, I don't know why it's been going off and on - that's a new thing. And it has always passed inspections up unitl now where apparently this new law has been passed.
Next action - read the code and go to AutoZone?
Just some history, I bought this car used about 3 yrs ago. Within about 3 mos of having it, the check engine light came on and, really, it has been on steady up until recently, when it's been going out. You'd think the bulb itself would've gone out by now - haha. Maybe that light runs on something charged by the battery, though, and it never burns out. Anyway, I don't know why it's been going off and on - that's a new thing. And it has always passed inspections up unitl now where apparently this new law has been passed.
Next action - read the code and go to AutoZone?
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Re: Car won't pass inspection
Originally Posted by Bill F
I wonder if disconnecting and reconnecting the battery would help to reset the computer? It won't hurt to try.
I think I'm at the point of giving this a try. I've been at jury duty all day so I've had no time to deal with this today.