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Please advise I'm desperate
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cmonette
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cemonette@aol.com
Jun 29, 2008, 11:01 AM
Post #1 of 8
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Please advise I'm desperate
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I just spent my last dime on getting my EGR valve cleaned out on my 95 Lumina -- it must pass an inspection tomorrow. The shop that did the work will be closed all next week. As I drove out of the closed shop, the VOLTS light came on! Could something that was done during the repair be causing this? Maybe something not reconnected? I will be desperately looking for someone to work on the car tomorrow...I must drive it 25 miles before it can pass the emissions inspection (several months late). Please advise. Thank you.
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Double J
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Jun 29, 2008, 12:21 PM
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Depending on what they had to do to "clean the EGR valve"...they may have left the alternator disconnected.
Look at the back of the alternator and see if anything is disconnected.
This is if its a 3.1 L engine,the alternator is right up top on the passenger side of the engine back by the firewall.
Click here for pix
Jim
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
cemonette@aol.com
Jun 29, 2008, 12:36 PM
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Thank you SO much for this information. I don't see anything that isn't connected, but at least I'll know what to ask a mechanic to do for me tomorrow...or at least, I'll know where to ask him to start.
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Double J
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Jun 29, 2008, 12:56 PM
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Remember ,if the volt light is on ,the alternator/charging system probably is not working and the vehicle will be running off the charge of the battery,once the battery runs down,the vehicle WILL stall out..so dont be driving this too far...
Let us know the results
Good Luck
Jim
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
cemonette@aol.com
Jun 30, 2008, 9:54 AM
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Well, some mechanics (whom I don't completely trust) tell me I need a new alternator and the VOLTS light is completely unrelated to the work I just had done. I'm going to turn in the plates today and be "carless" for a while...when the mechanics at the shop who did the EGR work (whom I do trust) return from their vacation, I'll ask them if anything they did/failed to do could have caused this problem. It looked to me as though a fuse box was loose under the hood,and I'm quite sure the VOLTS ligtht must have gone on when the first set of mechanics who did the EGR work drove the car out of the repair bay and parked it on their lot...it was the last car they worked on that day, and I could tell they were in a rush when I called. Thanks so much for the advice...maybe this is an unrelated alternator repair, but my gut tells me it isn't. On the bright side: I'll learn all about my town's transit system and maybe lose some weight from all the walking all be doing.
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Double J
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Jun 30, 2008, 5:24 PM
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Unfortunately,cars break..Used cars break,NEW cars break.
With that said,there are times when coincidently a part that is unrelated to the repairs the car is in for fails when still at the shop or when leaving the shop.
It is the hardest thing to explain to a customer, and from the customers viewpoint,i can see how they would think its related.
But it does happen,has happened and will happen again and again...
It has happened to all of us..any Mechanic that it hasnt happened to hasnt been in the business long enough.
You can only hope that the mechanic tells the truth...If he's a "trusted" mechanic,then you have to believe him..
If it came on for them,i cant see them letting you take it knowing it could cause you to break down...
I can see it from your point of view since you found things that were left loose..
But anything is possible...
Let us know what the outcome is
Take care and Good Luck
Hey,Walking is good for you anyway...
Try taking up bike riding...Get a different perspective on the ol' neighborhood,meet the neighbors,get a good cardio,get there a little faster than walking ...Only one problem,After a long ride or a few days of riding,that seat gets uncomfortable..you'll end up walking like a Texan or a newlywed...
Jim
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
cemonette@aol.com
Jun 30, 2008, 5:50 PM
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Thanks, Jim -- Your points are well taken. I would have NO trouble believing that the new problem and the recent repair are unrelated, and if that is what the mechanic tells me, I absolutely won't argue. I simply want to talk to the first mechanic and ask him what he thinks. It's an old car, and old cars break down, as you wisely state. On the other hand, if fuses, the alternator etc. were all disconnected to work on the EGR valve, is it possible something didn't get completely reconnected at the end of the day on a Friday...asking is free; a new alternator is not free
I really appreciate your comments and interest, and I will post again when this is resolved.
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Double J
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Jun 30, 2008, 6:05 PM
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Oh,Dont misunderstand me,
I urge you to ask away.....they may certainly be at fault.
Mistakes Do happen.....with electrical ,anything is possible...
Especially on Fridays at Quittin' time !!!
To service the EGR valve itself on this vehicle,( I assume the engine size is a 3.1 L)the fuse box and the alternator would not have to be disturbed at all.
But if the Intake manifold was removed to access and clean EGR passages,then the alternator would have been disturbed.
Hopefully for your sake,its their mistake and they step up to the plate...
Hey ,even if its not,they may offer some assistance toward the repairs ,like parts at cost and/ or reduced labor.
Or better still, you pay the parts,labor is on them...just as a goodwill gesture...
If they dont offer this,ask for it...as you say,asking is free...doesnt hurt to ask for assistance...
Some may not want to offer this,because they're afraid it admits guilt....
On the contrary,it builds the reputation ,ensures customer satisfaction and how do they say it,make a customer happy,he tells 5 people,makes a customer angry,he tells 11 people and they tell people and so on....
Good luck
Jim
(This post was edited by JIM N on Jun 30, 2008, 6:06 PM)
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