I need some help.....PLEASE HELP

[Alicha]

About a few days ago my 2004 Cruiser started to act funny. We just got the car 3 months ago. Well I needed gas so I filled it up and now it feels all funny when I drive it. Then today on the way to the gym when I went to start the car I gave it some gas and the car back fired. Now before that I asked a friend's husband to take it for a drive to see what he thought and he said it sounds like I got some bad gas in the car. Now my husband is in Baghdad I'm here all alone and I have no idea what to do. After the car back fired the engine light came one and is still on. So I guess what I am asking is if anything sounds like it could be bad gas I never had it so I wouldnt know what to look for and I know crap about cars. I just dont know what to do. Please help if you can and tell me when they think I should do. Beside learn about car. [xx(]

Thanks for any help...

Alicha

[CREWZIN]

Alicha,

Take it to the dealer...any dealer. If it's that new, your still under warranty and the computer will have a code that tells the dealer what's wrong, or at lease give them a place to start looking. Bad gas can cause problems and sometimes can be taken care of with a can or two of fuel additive, other times (rearly), much more extensive work has to be done to clear the fuel system.

[Alicha]

thanks yeah I was going to call them tomorrow. I am just afread they will think I am a stupid woman but I need to have it taken care of because it is very new and with my husband gone I just dont know what to do.

thanks again
Alicha [8)]

[RD CHILI]

Alicha;

Don't wait, take it to the dealer. Don't tell them anything like maybe bad gas or anything else. It's under warranty. tell them to fix it. If you continue to drive it, it could get worse.

[Mike-in-Orange]

If the car is doing something noticeably wrong, and it's happening all the time as opposed to an intermittent problem, then nobody will accuse you of being a stupid woman. I know it's a royal pain in the butt when these sort of things happen and you're trying to deal will the truly important things in life, but your dealer will take care of you with this. Just calmly explain to them when this started and what it's doing.

I assume since your husband is in Baghdad he's in the military - when you get a chance, tell him thanks for doing what he's doing; let him know how much we appreciate his sacrifice. And know that we appreciate yours too. God bless.

[2sb]

I think the additive CREWZIN spoke of is called something like GAS DRY. It's for when you got some gas with water in it. Just read the label and make sure it's okay for fuel injected engines.
Go ahead to the dealer so he can read your fault codes. Was there any problem before you got gas?
BTW, not getting the gas cap screwed back on tight can also give a fault code but fault codes go away if it's not a continuing problem.

Let us know how it turns out, please.

[PTRON]

DEALER! DEALER! DEALER!That's why you bought new instead of used.

[MX-5]

Get informed prior to calling the dealer.

There are engine diagnostic codes to be read.
Turn the ignition switch from off to on, 3 times quickly, ending in the on position. Do not start the engine.
The codes will read on the odometer.
Look for them as P0301, P0403, P1463, etc.....

Post them here and we will let you know what the car's computer is finding. This will let you know what the dealer will be looking at. It goes a long way to make sure they don't replace a $20 part and charge you for a whole engine.


I'm hosting an automotive driveability and electronic scan tool clinic today, but I'll be around to research your codes later today. I have 20 local techs signed up for my class today, from noon 'til 5pm.

[quicksilverdon]

Sounds like what happened to me a while ago. Wife filled up car, car ran like crap, took to dealer, they had to drain fuel system. They gave me a glass jar of some of the bad gas they drained, and I went back to where my wife got the gas - turns out that major gas companies can test for additives and recognize their own gas - they agreed it was theirs, and paid the dealer for the work to drain the system.
Good luck!

[Alicha]

First of all thank you all for your help. My husband called today and he said to say thank you to all of you for your help also while he is gone and thank you for the kind words.

Today when I went to start the car and drive it the car was fine the engine light came off and she drove good. But I still dont know so I did the code check like MX-5 asked and this is what the code was

PO 303

I hope it is a good one and there is nothing wrong with my baby. I am going to take it into the dealer but I will wait to see what MX-5 says about the code.

Thanks again I just hope nothing is wronge with my baby I love this car it is the best car we had so far. I seen the convertable ones in my car magasine and I told my husband I want one of those too

[8)] Alicha