Check Engine Light and Warranty

[peter]

I have a recurrent CEL problem persistent even after the dealer
replaced an IAC (Intake air control) valve... engine runs fine, always
did.... I have threatened to come in every day to have them check the
CEL code and clear it because.... suppose one day it is some OTHER
problem and I assume its just the same old crap.... I worry that SOA
would not honor the warranty because I "failed to bring the car in for
service as soon as possible after the CEL warning appeared"....

any thoughts on this will be appreciated!
peter

 

[Alan]

If it is still under warranty, then keep bringing it in. If you live in a
Lemon Law state, threaten to use it. The codes don't always point to the
part causing the problem. Sometimes they are just along the lines of "Excess
HCO emissions". If there is no other code to point them to the exact part,
they are just guesstimating.

 

[Todd H.]

Yeah, you're kinda stuck. You gotta keep bringing it in. They can't
solve the problem without the car. The lemon law threat is a very
good idea--that's what it's for.

 

[Edward Hayes]

There was a recall on the O2 sensor that will cause the cel light as will a
bad gasket on the gas cap. eddie

 

[Frank Logullo]

Yeah, you're kinda stuck. You gotta keep bringing it in. They can't
solve the problem without the car. The lemon law threat is a very
good idea--that's what it's for.

I found lemon law in Delaware useless. Ended up suing Ford and the dealer
that wanted me to split the cost of a new engine since I was not deligent
enough in letting the low oil light come one. (Tou don't expect to run out
of oil 3 days out of the shop.) They settled out of court and paid all
costs plus but this was the experience that drove me to Japanese cars. Here
you can go into small claims court (magistrate) for now maybe up to $10,000.
You can represent yourself but dealers and manufacturers use lawyers which
cost them plenty and they will usually yield to a small claim. Hopefully
SOA will not treat you like Ford did me. Make sure you save all receipts
and keep records. My Ford dealer had a nasty habit of not giving me
receipts, returning car when office was closed, no charge - so no record.
They know the law and a bad dealer will use it to his advantage.
Frank

 

[Alan]

I also left Ford because of bad dealers (three of them!) and lack of support
from Ford. I had all receipts. On my last visit to fix a repeating problem,
they re-routed a wire incorrectly through the sub frame, and the wire broke.
The dealer denied responsibility and Ford said to take it up with the
dealer. I was in a new Toyota the next week. They lost me as a customer
forever.

 

[tcassette]

I had my 96 Outback in about 4 times before they replaced the right
component. The dealer had to get the factory technical support involved
because they had replaced everything indicated by the OBD codes. Make sure
your Subaru zone representative hears about any foot-dragging by the dealer.

 

[Peter]

Thanks to all for the input... today the light has stayed off... has been
intermittent all along.... But I WILL wield the lemon law if need be...
love the Subaru otherwise... (neglected to say its a 2002 outback wagon 5
speed with almost 60K miles)

So... aside from Subaru Bashing, I must point out that I had 2 memorable
occasions... pulling a pickup truck out of a snow bank, and a slithering
sliding SUV out of trouble at a nearby ski park... neither were anything
but sheepish that my little outback helped 'em out!


peter