hey all, for the last 3 weeks I've been chasing an intermittent "check engine light" that is reading as "cylinder #7 misfire"...i've done plugs, wires, cap cap and rotor, didn't help and yesterday I replaced the injector ( and let me tell you, it was ALL sorts of fun getting the injectors seated again....), had it running (seemingly) nicely for an hour, and thought it was set.....and it tripped the light on the way to work AGAIN last night. I 'm off to the local Autozone to get the latest code read. There's a possibility it's something different, like perhaps an injector isn't seated quite right throwing a code for a different/multiple cylinders, but I've got a sneaking suspicion it's still #7. At this point, just abut the only things left (in order of expense) are the wiring to the #7 injector, the engine computer (min $300), or a cracked head/headgasket (though I don't have any other symptoms, like overheating, coolant loss, or coolant mixing with the oil)..and that biggie is a $1000 plus repair, which we do NOT have the funds for even remotely. I'm not wanting to borrow any extra trouble though, so I'm praying it's nothing worse than the computer...

To top it off, I'm on vacation this week, and we'd already changed the "big" plans (going to Detroit for Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford museum) to smaller plans, and now THOSE plans are at a standstill due to the possible financial implications.

I'm seriously at my wits end here, I literally almost broke down crying when it acted up AGAIN last night, and could REALLY stand for some prayer cover, both on the van issue and the mental front......

you got it my friend. praying now

Will do.

Vehicle problems can be so very discouraging. I pray that you will be able to get the van running and have some relaxing down time on vacation.

You've got it man.

Well, it IS still popping the #7 code....the guy at Autozone brought up the possibility of lost compression from bad rings (another possibility we can't afford)...BUT I change the injector because I had verified that it wasn't actuating with a mechanics stethescope LAST time it acted up like this, so I'm REALLY leaning towards an electronics issue at this point. Because of that, I'm simply going to have to give in and have it diagnosed at the shop Monday morning.....



I don't mind chasing things down, and can't really complain about the money spent doing it, because it was all "routine maintenance" with the exception of the injector, and that was only $50. I still can't help but feel like I simply should have done this 3 weeks ago the first time it happened, and then we could probably still have had SOME sort of decent vacation trip......

Hindsight is 20/20, as is said.


Don't beat yourself up. It's no use to do so; it serves no valid purpose.

I will be praying. I know how frustrating vehicle issues can be.

Vehicles are the devil when they act up. Hang in there, we're praying for you.

Been there, done that (with vehicles) and, will be there, probably, again.

Praying for you all.

Will do brother.

Well, they haven't even been able to get it looked at yet, but that's not exactly something unexpected, as my mechanic is very good at what he does, and pretty busy as a result.....I went and picked up the van (rode my bike in the rain, luckily it's only about 2 miles) so we can make a trip to the store for some groceries and necessities, and will drop it back off early in the morning.......

Just got the vehicle back, and the bill was just a hair under $200. Looks like the original issue was indeed the injector, and what ended up happening was that when I replaced the plugs, wires, cap, and rotor, that masked the problem for a while.....but when it cropped back up and I changed the injector, drivign on the BAD injector had messed up the NEW plug in #7, which is why th einjector didn't totally solve the issue either. Mechanic figured this out by swapping the plug itself into a couple other cylinders, and the misfire followed it around. I'm off to put some miles on the van to check things out for my own peace of mind, but so far, the engine is smoother than it's been in a long while....keep the prayer cover up, though...assuming that work got the payroll stuff squared correctly, we're gonna try and take a couple day trips out to Chicago for the aquarium and Museum of Science and Industry

Good news.


I went to the Museum of Science and Industry in the 7th grade. It was Cool then, and, I am sure it is Cool now.

Well, so far, so good....just gotta doublecheck with the store manager to make sure things aren't screwed up on the payroll end of things. For some reason my gut is nagging at me that they've gotten the dates off by a week........

Yesterday I paid nearly $500 for rotors, brake pads, tires.... It's no fun!!

That sounds like a very good mechanic indeed, and one who really cares. Keep him!!

Now, pile some juice boxes in a cooler, some granola bars Ms. Exo's purse, a few Veggie Tales DVDs in the player (just so you'll go insane faster), add three tons of wet wipes in the van and hit the road!!! Oh - throw the rug rats in too!

I'll pray for the payroll stuff and for safe travel.

WEll, the oay thng was squared away properly, so we took off to do stuff for a few days.....Went to Shedd Aquarium on Thursday, which, while decently fun, was a HUGE mistake! Summer free days are apparently WAY busier than I remember them. There was a 2HOUR wait in line just to get inside the building, and the inside was absoute CHAOS. I believe we all honestly now know exactly how sardines feel!

Because of Thursday's experience, we elected NOT to go back to Chicago for the Museum of Science and Industry on Friday, since it was the last free day until September!!! (LOL) We spent Thursday just running around our "local" area, visiting some local attractions, driving around and such...was a nice, fun day.

Saturday, we got up early and drove out to Fort Wayne for the Children's Zoo.....and that place is a FANTASTIC piece of work! I don't think I've enjoyed myself that much in a long, long time.


we didn't have ONE hiccup out of the van the whole time, put over 500 miles on it in 3.5 days of driving around, and things seem awesome......thanks for all the prayers, everyone!

Points:


1.

Quote:

There was a 2HOUR wait in line just to get inside the building, and the inside was absoute CHAOS. I believe we all honestly now know exactly how sardines feel!

Blech.......sounds like any and every event here in La--La--Land that is public oriented.

I have had a saying that I coined as soon as we moved out here in 1991......and I still live by it now.....it is every bit as relevant as it was in 1991, even more so. It goes, "The further away from Seattle I stay, the happier I am."


2. Glad your van worked well man.

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Daddy likes it all, the DraíodóirDé likes it all

Cool. You are welcome.

Now, go watch some corn grow.

Glad to hear it.