Safety Tip for Drivers, My Story (long)

[Forevermarypoppins]

The background details: ( I don't want to bash the car company)
My car is about 10 years old, we bought it used 8 yrs ago. My husband is very good on keeping up with regular maintenance. In the last 2 years or so we've had the AC fixed, an AC valve (or similar) replaced because there was leak and my floor was wet, a few broken "plastic" parts replaced that were causing a clicking noise from the dash everytime the car started. I know there are a few other things but nothing too shocking.

UNTIL; 2 weeks ago my engine light goes off. Of course I am home alone for the day as everyone else is at my GS's hockey games. I notice the car "shakes a little" like there is a 50mph wind coming at me when driving but go about my business. I didn't drive far, nor out of town. My husband takes the car into our regular mechanic on a MON ( we own multiple older cars so we have "a guy") and he checks everything over, sees something he feels needs to be replaced, resets the check engine, does his roadtest and all is well...... but when he does a 2nd road test later and when he did, the check engine light goes back on. He goes back again to see what he missed and comes up with nothing. The car is drivable but his assumption is : engine rebuild or replace the engine. Not cheap and in the same ballpark as the value of the car. OK, I can still drive the car but we know there is a fix needed and now the decision is new car, fix this car and keep it, or have it towed away for slim dollars.

THEN: I am driving the car from Tues thru Fri, not going far, to my walking route, to the store, the bank etc. SAT ( last SAT) I drive to my walking area, maybe 5 miles from my house, do my walk, get in and immediately I notice reduced power when on the gas pedal and a message: REDUCED ENGINE CAPACITY. This isn't good, I am 5 miles from home, alone for the weekend as the family is out of town for hockey tournament. I immediately put my 4way flashers on and realize it will be a very slow ride home. THANKfully, the lesser traveled and lower speed limit road that was closed for construction has been reopened that week and I chose that way. I turn left crossing an immediate Railroad crossing BUT up ahead suddenly the other R/R goes blinking red and the gates go down. Darn I think, because now I have to stop and sit. I am in the far R lane of a 4 lane road. I am car #2 at the R/R crossing I put the car in Neutral while a LONG, LONG train passes. The train is gone, gates go up and I put the car in D and I have NOTHING. I am going NOWHERE. Even though I had my 4 ways blinking ( they were working, I checked) I had a car drive right up close behind me.

NOW: this is my TIPS for anyone and absolutely myself.

I am so LUCKY, I didn't end up "on the tracks". I sat there and didn't realize this and when I did ......oh the pit of the stomach just sank. Had my car moved ahead when those gates went up and then died I would have stalled on the tracks. I have always wondered how in the world does a car get stopped, stalled, stuck on R/R tracks and now I know. I was so, so fortunate I had that one car in front of me when those gates went down. It was good I wasn't close for the tow truck too, or he would have been on the tracks getting me hooked up. YIKES!!! **** For me, I will never go right up to the line if I'm the first car at the gate/crossing.

***An orange safety cone behind my car would have been a great help. I could not believe how many cars came too close for my comfort as I sat there waiting for my tow. I pumped my brakes for too many cars so they would "wake up" and notice what was in front of them!

***** Take the Check engine light seriously. We should have and I would have driven another car instead since I had that option.

Today: my non drivable car was towed home and is now in my driveway. My husband was able to actually move it in the driveway. We have bought a new car. Yeah nice but I love life w/o a car payment better!

 

[leebee]

Thankfully, you are safe. That's all that really matters.

 

[_19disnA]

When a 'check engine' light comes on it sets one or more codes in the computer that the technician can use to solve the problem. Generally, these are minor/routine issues that should be corrected when you are able to take the vehicle in for service. Rarely will it mean 'rebuild/replace the engine' and more likely an indication a sensor, faulty connector or other similar issues needs to be corrected. Messages like 'reduced engine power' are more serious and also an indication of some sort of issue that needs to be diagnosed and corrected as soon as possible. Continuing to drive and ignore such messages is NOT a good idea. If the mechanic you are using can't diagnose the problem, I would first take it someplace else to get a second opinion before paying for a pricey engine swap.

 

[FlyingDonut]

That's scary. I'm glad things played out the way they did and you're OK.

Just in case anyone here doesn't do railroad crossings very often, if you do get stuck on one, in the US there is a blue sign on each. You should call the number (which may vary depending on the rail company) on the blue sign and give the code (unique to each crossing) on the sign before / in addition to calling 911. The people (rail company) at the 1-800 number may have an easier / more direct time contacting any relevant train crews and seeing what upcoming usage of the crossing is than 911.

 

[starry_solo]

This just happened to my sis this week. Three lights came on and her car started shaking. Check engine, VSC, and then the one with the squiggly line hat looked like a tire issue.

turns out it was the ignition coil that had to be replaced. Her car is a 2010, so 14 years old.

 

[tvguy]

Your post is kind of thin on details. I would expect a modern car to go 10 years with no repairs (other than oil changes, tires and brakes). And as other's have pointed out, a check engine light should generate a code that pinpoints the cause of an issue. Your mechanic needed another chance to diagnose, or maybe you needed a different mechanic, not a new car.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

In the mechanics defense, my husband did all the dealings with. I'm not good on all those details.
to above poster I would agree that a 10 year old car should still be running without a major engine problem....

 

[cvjw]

I am terrified of a car breaking down on me. I would never drive one with an engine warning light on - that just seems to be asking for trouble.

After the second engine warning light came on, I would have taken it to the dealer and let them figure out what was going on. Your mechanic may be out of his comfort zone.

 

[dizneegirl]

I didn't even get a check engine light before my car had an engine fire while I was driving... that would have been nice.

I would have had someone else double-check the check engine light, especially when it came back on. Even parts shops like AutoZone can plug in and get diagnostics from most cars. At the very least, I would have had them see if they saw anything.