Easiest car repair ever

[ckissick]

The coolant heat/level light on the dashboard of my Tristar has been flashing intermittently for a few years now. Bad sensor. Finally, I got around to buying a new sensor. I put it in the glove box until I got the time to install it. Guess what? The light no longer flashes. I even drove to Tahoe and back with no annoying flashing.

Next time I throw a valve, I'll just buy a new valve, piston, etc. throw them in the glove box, and be on my way. Of course, a cool collar in the glove box will be just as effective as an installed one.

[recycled sixtie]

Kind of like what I have read before in one of these car forums, a man took his P car in to have a new IMS installed and the negligent mechanic never installed the new one. The new one remained on the mechanic's bench......
Sounds like my worst nightmare.

[crustychief]

Hahaa! Nice! The cool collar might just save your bacon someday.

[Neilk]

You mean the light finally burned out after flashing intermittently for years?

[vash]

This never happens with me. The part would have jammed my glove box closed, requiring demo work to open costing me some multiple of $500.

[Jeff Jagusch]

I couldn't resist posting!
My dads truck had a check engine light come on. He took it to the dealer for a diagnosis. They said the mass air flow sensor had gone bad and wanted $150 to replace it ( two Phillips screws). He brought it home, and I bought the part and went to his house to replace it, it took me about 3 minutes start to finish, so I start it up and sure enough no engine light on! I go into his house to tell him I fixed it, he was in his office that looked out to the front yard, he says thanks, but why is the truck rolling down the driveway ( he lives on a fairly large hill). The truck goes out the drive and turns perfectly down the street right into a neighbors yard and into a tree. Seems I was so excited I'd fixed it that I left it in neutral

Needs new rear bumper, box, door, front fender, $6500 total.

Worst part was my dad goes to pick up the truck and the guy says, hey, next time your son wants to work on your truck........

I wish I could say I made this up

[john70t]

Whenever the dashboard CEL (OBD1 which is US pre-94/5) or MIL (OBD2 which is ALL US 1996+) comes on, just turn up the radio volume to not hear it.

Otherwise, go to Autozone for free code read, or a friend with a scanner, or just purchase one yourself and look up the system the computer thinks is wrong.