The "Ask a Mechanic" Thread (merged)

[WhoRUSupposed2Be]

Can an off alignment do damage to your rotors?

[Prosperity]

is the service engine soon light a big deal?

I have a 2003 Mitsubishi and the light turned on for no apparent reason. The car has run perfectly fine and the same way it always has... change the oil regularly and all that. Is it just trying to tell me to make sure to get it maintained regularly, or is there something wrong with it that I don't know?

[twa]

Can an off alignment do damage to your rotors?

Not really, unless it wears your wheel bearings out first imo

odd one

[twa]

is the service engine soon light a big deal?

I have a 2003 Mitsubishi and the light turned on for no apparent reason. The car has run perfectly fine and the same way it always has... change the oil regularly and all that. Is it just trying to tell me to make sure to get it maintained regularly, or is there something wrong with it that I don't know?

It is usually a emission sensor bad or the fuel mix rich due to some other sensor bad

Usually nothing to worry about and can be caused by bad gas or even a loose gas cap...if it continues after filling up again it would be better to have it checked (autozone ect usually will scan for free if money is tight)

Springfield or someone more familiar with Mitsubishi's can help more.

[I_Bleed_B&G]

is the service engine soon light a big deal?

I have a 2003 Mitsubishi and the light turned on for no apparent reason. The car has run perfectly fine and the same way it always has... change the oil regularly and all that. Is it just trying to tell me to make sure to get it maintained regularly, or is there something wrong with it that I don't know?

My guess is the O2 sensor (oxygen sensor). Does your car smell like rotten eggs when you open the door while the car is on or when you stand near muffler? Go to autozone or advance auto parts and they will loan you an OBD II scanner. It will tell you exactly what is wrong with your car. If it is your O2 sensor, you don't have to get it changed right away. Your gas mileage will just go down because the fuel/air mixture won't be right and if you ignore it for too long, it will jack up your catalytic converter which cost way more then an 02 sensor

[LaxBuddy21]

Probably warped rotors due to the top of the line ceramic brake pads

Ceramics and cast iron rotors combined with heavy braking=warpage
lotta heat buildup with ceramics

Ok so choices are ceramic brake pads that warp my rotors (no Im not a heavy braker either) or semi-metallics with the pieces of metal that mess my rotors up. Something seems wrong here!

[twa]

Ok so choices are ceramic brake pads that warp my rotors (no Im not a heavy braker either) or semi-metallics with the pieces of metal that mess my rotors up. Something seems wrong here!

A good semi-metallic pad should not mess up the rotor and do not have as much heat buildup

If you upgrade to ceramics, upgrade the rotors imo

Perhaps one of the others have a better suggestion

added

perhaps the rotors should have been replaced instead of turned?

[deepo11]

Just got a 2000 Honda accord V6, and check engine light comes on shortly after I fill up. Ussually shuts off when I get really low on gas. I put 87 octane in it, is it possible that the light comes on due to fuel grade? Do you reccomend using a higher grade gas?

Secondly I need to get my timing belt switched at 105,000K, what would be a reasonable price for parts and labor? And what would be a reasonable price if I was to supply part?

Thanks for the help.

[twa]

Just got a 2000 Honda accord V6, and check engine light comes on shortly after I fill up. Ussually shuts off when I get really low on gas. I put 87 octane in it, is it possible that the light comes on due to fuel grade? Do you reccomend using a higher grade gas?

Secondly I need to get my timing belt switched at 105,000K, what would be a reasonable price for parts and labor? And what would be a reasonable price if I was to supply part?

Thanks for the help.

The grade should not effect it, I would think it is a problem with the fuel vapor recovery system..but w/o a scan it is beyond my help and guessing vapor cannister

They do have several tsb's out on them (Technical Service Bulletins)

Perhaps someone else can help.

PAGING Springfields...lol

[ljs]

gf owns a 91 Ford Explorer. First- this thing is a beast and I have no idea why it still runs. The damn thing leaks oil like a faucet that is turned on. which leads me to this question-

What is the best thing to clean all the oil off so I can figure out where the leak is coming from? I tried a liquid degreaser- didn't really do much. I don't want to scrub the entire engine, so looking for something that I can spray or pour on it, let it soak and rinse off. I know, asking for a lot- but any suggestions would help.

[SpringfieldSkins]

Well I can see that twa has been busy. I'll be giving my own input here briefly.

[I_Bleed_B&G]

gf owns a 91 Ford Explorer. First- this thing is a beast and I have no idea why it still runs. The damn thing leaks oil like a faucet that is turned on. which leads me to this question-

What is the best thing to clean all the oil off so I can figure out where the leak is coming from? I tried a liquid degreaser- didn't really do much. I don't want to scrub the entire engine, so looking for something that I can spray or pour on it, let it soak and rinse off. I know, asking for a lot- but any suggestions would help.

where are you trying to clean the oil? on the engine itself or under the car? Brake or carb cleaner works great for me

[SpringfieldSkins]

So I have a 2006 Pontiac G6 83,000 miles on it. When I have been going highway speeds and I start to brake to slow down, my car vibrates. I replaced the front brakes and had the rotors shaved about 20,000 miles ago. I put top of the line ceramic brake pads on because I found out the semi-metallic pads I had put on previously were crap (thank you autozone for recommending that junk). I still have the semi-metallic pads on the back because I have not had a need to replace them quite yet. It feels like the vibration is coming from the front of my car and my first thought was the rotors were getting warped but I have a hard time believing that since I just had the work done 20,000 miles ago. Anyone have any thoughts?

Probably warped rotors due to the top of the line ceramic brake pads

Ceramics and cast iron rotors combined with heavy braking=warpage
lotta heat buildup with ceramics

Sorry twa but I have to disagree with you. I think that the problem may be more to do with the thickness of the rotors than the composition of the "top of the line" brake pads.

Ceramic pads are certainly good. Much better than semi-metallic pads in my opinion. I've never seen a set of ceramic brake pads cause a vibration. What I have seen cause a vibration are poor workmanship (not using a torque stick on the lug nuts, not lubricating the caliper slides), brake rotors that are too thin and emergency braking.


Vibration is caused when the brake rotors are warped. Warping meaning that the brake rotors are not completely flat. Several things can cause a brake rotor to become warped. An uneven torque when mounting a wheel to the rotor can give the rotor a slight "wobble" resulting in a warped brake rotor. A sticking brake pad can cause the rotor to overheat resulting in a warped rotor. A rotor that is too thin can lose it's ability to dissipate heat and warp. An emergency stop can overheat the rotors to the point they overheat.

Most of the time, rotors warp because they overheat. Plain and simple. I wouldn't automatically blame it on the "top of the line" brake pads.

[SpringfieldSkins]

Can an off alignment do damage to your rotors?

Nope.

Twa nailed this one.

[SpringfieldSkins]

is the service engine soon light a big deal?

You won't ever know until you have it checked.


The SES (Service engine soon) or CEL (check engine light) comes on for a multitude of different reasons. Anything from a loose gas cap to a bad catalytic converter to a worn spark plug can cause that light to come on. When the light comes on there will be a trouble code stored as to why the light came on. That particular code will state the malfunction found and the area of needed repair. It is up to the technician to figure out what is causing the trouble code and thus your SES.

There are quite a few things that can cause the SES to come on that the car's computer can mask so that you won't know any difference when driving your car. Some of these things can be quite harmful to your engine if left unchecked. Some of them won't have any impact at all.


You live in VA... depending on where you live, you will have and emissions inspection requirement to renew your tags. If the SES/CEL is on and your vehicle is a 1996 or newer, it will fail. Just one more thing to think about.


Bottom line, in my opinion... it may not be doing any damage and you may be able to drive with the light on for a while but I certainly think it is worthwhile to know why it is on. That way you can make an informed decision on whether or not you want to have it fixed.