When my check engine soon light came on, I changed the plugs, wires and air filter. After a couple of more days, and the light stayed on, I took it in to the local Chevy dealer. They read the failure code, and said the fuel injectors were dirty. They cleaned them, and then said some of them were bad and it would be best to replace them all. I did, and was back in the shop almost right away when my car failed the state emission test required for registration. The dealer's shop read the codes and said the catalyst was bad. I thanked them and went to a tire and muffler shop where I had a new catalyst installed. My car then passed the state test, but 6 months later, the check engine light came on again. I went to the tire and muffler shop and found they had gone out of business. Therefore I found myself at the Chevy dealer's shop again, and they confirmed the catalyst was bad. Now my thinking was that the bad fuel injectors had caused the last catalyst to go bad, so I suspected there was another injector problem. The dealer said no, a cylinder had been missing from time to time, but the injectors weren't coding as a problem. So I asked the shop tech what would be the next steps to make sure my emissions problems would go away. His response was, replace the catalyst and then he said his 'flow chart' indicated replacing an automatic transmission part. I asked him if the O2 sensors could be in the mix, and he said definitly not. OK, so his credibility was beginning to look flakey to me. I went on line and bought the two O2 sensors, replaced the one on the catalyst, and took the car to an emissions specialist for the front one (the engine had to me tilted for access, and I could not do that). Then, the check engine light went out for several weeks. This time, when it came on, I broke down and took my car in to a state recommended emissions specialist. They read my engine computer code, and determined the catalyst was bad. They replaced it, and my car ran good for six months, until I smelled something burning. I took my car right in again to the emission specialists, and they replaced the catalyst at no charge under warranty, and were very apologetic. Cool. I parked my car for 2 years, as I had a company car. Then I returned my Monte Carlo to use. It passed the state emissions test, and I used my registered car for 1 1/2 years. Then the engine started missing and the check engine soon light came on again. I resigned myself to the headache, but was so pleased with the state recommended emissions specialist, that I went there right away. They gave me a loaner for 2 days for 8 bucks! Meanwhile, they read the code, found and replaced 1 bad injector, and cautioned my that when one goes, others could soon follow, and that the catalyst could have been damaged. It was not, and I am still driving a 'clean burning' and smooth running car. You don't always get what you pay for. The dealer charged my 5 times what this shop charged. I will never return to that Chevy dealer's repair shop in Hales Corners, WI again. And Thank You! AUTO ANALYZERS is West Allis, WI for your professionalism, honesty and friendliness.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
When my check engine soon light came on, I changed the plugs, wires and air filter. After a couple of more days, and the light stayed on, I took it in to the local Chevy dealer. They read the failure code, and said the fuel injectors were dirty. They cleaned them, and then said some of them were bad and it would be best to replace them all. I did, and was back in the shop almost right away when my car failed the state emission test required for registration. The dealer's shop read the codes and said the catalyst was bad. I thanked them and went to a tire and muffler shop where I had a new catalyst installed. My car then passed the state test, but 6 months later, the check engine light came on again. I went to the tire and muffler shop and found they had gone out of business. Therefore I found myself at the Chevy dealer's shop again, and they confirmed the catalyst was bad. Now my thinking was that the bad fuel injectors had caused the last catalyst to go bad, so I suspected there was another injector problem. The dealer said no, a cylinder had been missing from time to time, but the injectors weren't coding as a problem. So I asked the shop tech what would be the next steps to make sure my emissions problems would go away. His response was, replace the catalyst and then he said his 'flow chart' indicated replacing an automatic transmission part. I asked him if the O2 sensors could be in the mix, and he said definitly not. OK, so his credibility was beginning to look flakey to me. I went on line and bought the two O2 sensors, replaced the one on the catalyst, and took the car to an emissions specialist for the front one (the engine had to me tilted for access, and I could not do that). Then, the check engine light went out for several weeks. This time, when it came on, I broke down and took my car in to a state recommended emissions specialist. They read my engine computer code, and determined the catalyst was bad. They replaced it, and my car ran good for six months, until I smelled something burning. I took my car right in again to the emission specialists, and they replaced the catalyst at no charge under warranty, and were very apologetic. Cool. I parked my car for 2 years, as I had a company car. Then I returned my Monte Carlo to use. It passed the state emissions test, and I used my registered car for 1 1/2 years. Then the engine started missing and the check engine soon light came on again. I resigned myself to the headache, but was so pleased with the state recommended emissions specialist, that I went there right away. They gave me a loaner for 2 days for 8 bucks! Meanwhile, they read the code, found and replaced 1 bad injector, and cautioned my that when one goes, others could soon follow, and that the catalyst could have been damaged. It was not, and I am still driving a 'clean burning' and smooth running car. You don't always get what you pay for. The dealer charged my 5 times what this shop charged. I will never return to that Chevy dealer's repair shop in Hales Corners, WI again. And Thank You! AUTO ANALYZERS is West Allis, WI for your professionalism, honesty and friendliness.
- Brad A., Milwaukee, WI, US