NEW auto body shop says i need a new evap canister

[schmittb]

my "check engine light" goes on about 2-3 weeks ago. after a week i take it in to a new place. im here (newport beach) for college so i cant get to my usual shop, so i know that i can be screwed by them.

they say its an evap leak meaning anything from a new canister to it just being a loose gas cap. they run a smoke test and say the canister is leaking and theyre ordering me a new one. i have to pay about half my total cost ($180) for service and a down payment.

i wait til the part gets in, they call me, and the morning before i was going to take it in, the "check engine light" TURNS OFF. just so happens that i filled my tank up the previous night...

i didnt go to the auto shop yet, i am trying to decide my next move..

can a "check engine light" turn off on anything other than a loose gas cap? thats basically my main question. and another, is a leaking canister that bad to begin with?

thanks for any input

 

[adsm08]

Leaking canister won't make the engine run poorly, but it will effect your fuel economy, because it's allowing fuel to evaporate out of the take while the truck is sitting.

It's possible, but not common, for filling the tank to get the valve moving again. If that's the case then I'd still replace it.

I'd go back and ask if they did the smoke test with the valve open or closed. Makes a huge difference in the result.

 

[doorgunner]

$180 down!!!!!!

Don't go back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Why not buy the part and install it yourself?

 

[stegomon]

junk yard

 

[97RangerXLT]

yeah, junkyard. less than 15 bucks. takes about 5 minutes to install (unless yours is the type that is under the bed, then it might take 30 minutes...

AJ

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

His will be above the spare tire.

 

[06RangerXLT]

what i did was had my truck looked at and told them to speak to me before any charges got applied. when i said i didnt want the work done, they said i had to pay labor charges. as they didnt tell me this before i told them politely i wasn't going to be paying that, and i left. i love warranty, and found out i needed a wheel bearing.

 

[Shran]

what i did was had my truck looked at and told them to speak to me before any charges got applied. when i said i didnt want the work done, they said i had to pay labor charges. as they didnt tell me this before i told them politely i wasn't going to be paying that, and i left. i love warranty, and found out i needed a wheel bearing.

Dude...that's kinda dishonest... don't you think? I think asking someone to look at your truck to see what's wrong and then paying them for their time is completely fair.

 

[doorgunner]

Dude...that's kinda dishonest... don't you think? I think asking someone to look at your truck to see what's wrong and then paying them for their time is completely fair.

Capitalism in action......they tried to pull a fast one on him....but he pulled out of the parking lot faster!


Normally, the victim......errr....customer signs a form of some sort agreeing to the conditions of the repair:

free diagnosis(N.C.)/

flat rate diagnosis(We'll tell you what's broken for $50)/

Guesstimate diagnosis(We're guessing about $150 to figure out what's broke)/

Blanket diagnosis(We guarantee the work for $380)

Pay-as-We-Play diagnosis(We estimate $250--we'll call you if we run into a problem/a problem/a problem/a problem....)

rarely isit a "handshake agreement".....

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I know at our dealership we'll generally wave the diagnosis (if its something quick) if you get the work done with us. If not, its pay up sucka.

 

[AgPete139]

Dude...that's kinda dishonest... don't you think? I think asking someone to look at your truck to see what's wrong and then paying them for their time is completely fair.

Depends. Sometimes they are dishonest to you first, and they tack on lift fee, labor, and diagnosis tests to your "inspection." Before you know it, it's $120+. I have no respect for those kind of places, but I will pay if they are finding out why my car won't work under confusing & normal circumstances.

Otherwise, do all yourself. You know what part it is, and that it is getting done right.

However, I have done the same: I've simply walked out to my truck, gotten in, and drove off. I'm not going to pay you just because I'm busy and if you're an asshole to me.

I know at our dealership we'll generally wave the diagnosis (if its something quick) if you get the work done with us. If not, its pay up sucka.

Stealerships take the "diagnosis" anyways from all the other high fees!

pete

 

[Shran]

I am referring to reasonable charges for diagnosis... you require a service to be performed and it is perfectly OK to charge for that service. Can't put food on the table with nothing.

 

[Psychopete]

I've given a mechanic extra money cause he said the ball joints were shot on my van, so I had him do the work. Turns out they weren't that bad, so he didn't charge me labor. I ended up paying half of the labor anyway because he is an honest guy and has never once screwed me over.

I probably would have paid, but there is only one mechanic that I really trust. He runs just a little shop with him and his wife, that's gotta be tough.

 

[AgPete139]

Going off from PsychoPete, I've given extra to mechanics as well, especially when my 5.0 Fox was having issues. Nightmares.


Going back to the OP, buy a new gas cap at Autozone for $5. First of all, it can't hurt, and is really cheap. At the same time, get them to pull a diagnostic code for you. This will help you out a lot.