This morning we had to take Vince’s truck to the shop. Vince said “You follow me in the Honda” because he wanted to go pick up something from Home Depot. I followed him in the Honda, picked him up at the shop and we had driven about a mile and the check engine light came on in the Honda. As soon as we got to a place where we could pull into a parking lot, we pulled over and he checked the oil, which was ok so Vince said “That means we can still go to Home Depot”. Not me! Check engine light is on . . we’re taking it somewhere to check the engine or we’re going home! Vince . . I don’t know anywhere to take it. Then . . take it home and park it til you figure out where to take it so we went home, got the Highlander and made our rounds. I think Vince was frustrated that he just spent close to $1,000 on the new compressor and now this could be something major but, in my opinion, and . . you know I know nothing about all this . . but that’s what you should expect when you drive a 21 year old car. It is his choice. He doesn’t have to do this!
I knew he was frustrated so it wasn’t a good time to bring it up but after we got home, he stewed about it for a while and then he said “I’m going down to O’Reilly’s so they can test it and see if it’s throwing a code.” He did and it has something to do with . . I don’t even know what. Some man at O’Reilly’s told him about a good mechanic and it was the same guy a couple of other people told him about so Vince called him, gave him the code and he said . . it isn’t going to hurt anything to drive it and it’s a pretty expensive repair.
Later Vince needed to go to Lowe’s in Carthage. You know . . I laugh and want to tell him that if he would start cooking some of the meals, I think he would learn to make a list and get everything he needs in one trip. If Vince tried to cook a whole meal, he would have to go to the store 5 times!
On the way to Carthage, I told him “I don’t want to have a discussion about this right now but this car situation is getting old.” He didn’t respond, which I expected, and I really didn’t want to get into a “discussion” about it but really . . when we go out and wonder if we’re going to make it back . . it’s past time for a new vehicle.
He’s upstairs now and he just sent me this link so this means he’s doing research. I honestly don’t care what he gets. My vote is and has been for years . . a Honda Ridgeline but he won’t consider it. Now, if I said “Vince, sweetie . . you get anything you want but please do NOT get a Honda Ridgeline, he’d probably come home with a Ridgeline! 🙂
I guess it’s good that it all happened the way it did because we paid for half the fence already and I know he wouldn’t have bought the fence if he had bought the car but now that our other two vehicles aren’t dependable, well . . he hasn’t said he’s buying a car yet so I’m getting the cart ahead of the horse, aren’t I?
Vivian Oaks says
I recently had the check engine light come on in my Honda and mentioned it to my husband. The standard reply from him is a “I don’t know” face, and that’s what I got. Typical. Anyway, 4-5 days later, if that darn thing didn’t go off by itself, and hasn’t come back on. I had no idea it could even do that, but it did. I also read somewhere that if the check engine light just comes on and stays on, it’s not an immediate problem. If it starts blinking on and off, then you need to worry about it. My Honda is only 9 years old, so I guess I’m good for awhile! 🙂
Nancy H says
Sometimes the check engine light will come on if the gas cap has not been tightened properly. Next tank of gas and the cap gets put on right the light goes off. You are correct with the solid and blinking. Do not drive the car is the check engine light is blinking. Call a tow truck. I usually take my car by auto zone and have them check the code for me.
My car is a 2001 but it has a Diesel engine so it should be good for as least another 120K. But seals and stuff have started to go so I have been spending a bit of money on it recently. Not driving during the shutdown did not help the cars. Cars need to be run to keep the seals moist. And why the heck do I know so much about cars? It all started when I was a new driver and my father said until I could change a tire and change the oil I wasn’t allowed to drive the car. My dad felt that every one who drove a car should know how to care for it. Since when I married my husband knew less about cars than I did. I was put in charge of maintenance.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
We went through all the take the gas cap off, make sure it was tight, fill the car up with gas, etc. Didn’t change anything. That’s one way to get you to learn. That was very wise to have you learn the important maintenance before driving.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I worry any time a check engine light comes on. I googled the solid vs. blinking check engine light and found this: “Both a solid and flashing engine check light indicates that a problem has been detected. However, a flashing engine check light indicates that it is a serious problem that requires your immediate attention. If you see a flashing light, it’s best to contact a mechanic as soon as possible to prevent serious damage” so that’s good to know.
Paula Nordt says
I feel for you! My car is only fifteen years old and only 204,598 miles on it. Never had any problem with it except no AC. After repairing the AC three times, the last time it went out (7 years ago), I said no more. Anyway, drives great, or drove great, until today. Went to town, got in my car to come home. Turned the car on, engine came on great, put it in drive. Nothing. Car wouldn’t move at all! Geico sent a wrecker out. They couldn’t get it in neutral. Wouldn’t budge. Geico sent a different kind of wrecker out. After a six hour ordeal, my car is finally at a repair shop for an estimate and I had a raging headache. So glad it was overcast today and in the low nineties. We might be a one truck family for a long while.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Oh, goodness, what an ordeal. I hope it can be fixed without too much hassle and expense.
Rebecca says
..I was happy when we got a less-than-a-year-old car in 2016, and I got to use it most. Our other vehicle was a ‘96 Sable that was in good enough shape that John wanted to pay off the “new” car before replacing it. Well, that happened in September 2020! Now he’s the one who usually drives the good car, unless I’m going farther than local. 🙁 We haven’t talked about replacing the Sable, but I would rather like a car to myself.
Sara Fridley says
When the constant repairs were adding up to more than the old car was worth – that was the final thing that caused us to trade vehicles. It’s just too far between towns around here to drive something that isn’t reliable. And my husband has ZERO mechanical skills, unlike Vince . . . so he was probably easier to convince that it was time to trade. LOL
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I agree! We only use the Highlander for road trips. The pickup and Honda never leave our town and, knock on wood, the Highlander hasn’t had any problems.
Dorothy Matheson says
My DH totaled two cars in three years so he has given up his licnese. Before that he went to the store every day. Not now, I won/t go but once a week to a store. Walmart and grocery store once a week. But I have eased up on that a little. I am care giver to my 96 year old mother and do not leave her with out some one to check on her. I have an excuse.
Believe me if your DH will get a new car he will love all the bells and whistles. Back up Camera. And so many more. The first new one I picked out DH hated it. A bit sporty sedan. So he insisted on traiding it in and getting a different one. Got a good traid in and the new one fits all the things we need except my Mom cannot get in it hardle at all.
After a visit to the hospital over new years I now have her on Hospice Care. She is fairly stable but meets the criteria and I need the support..
I do love my new car and its all its safety. If he gets a new one he will change his mind. Old paid for cars are not a good thing now. Especially for an older person because they are not reliable and do not have safety features.
Joyce says
Since I only have one car, when it gets to the point where it needs constant repair, I trade it in. I just don’t have the time or energy to constantly take a car in for repair. I will say since I’ve owned Hondas, it takes a lot of years before they need frequent repairs. My goal is always to make a car last 10 years (at minimum). My current vehicle is 7 years old, and I hope it has more than 3 years of good life left in it. Right now I need to take it (back) in for a repair to the door lock sensor. Right now it’s just an annoyance, but my patience level is rather low at the moment, so I need to do that sooner rather than later.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Vince expects our vehicles to last at least 20 years. Our Honda is 21 years old and our Highlander is 15 years old. The Highlander never has any problems but the Honda didn’t til the last few years.
Peggi says
We had a 98 Ford Expedition we purchased new that I drove for 23 years. It had 298,000 miles on it when I finally let it go. My husband did a lot of the repairs on it, but of all the things that went wrong, the most annoying one for me was when the driver’s window stopped rolling down! You have no idea how often you use that window until it doesn’t work anymore.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
That’s what Vince had fixed on his 26 year old pickup yesterday. He had replaced the motor that raises and lowers the window but this was something else and it was harder to get to it so he paid a body shop to do it.
danielle says
I ended up trading my Honda Del Sol – which I ADORED – in for a Honda Insight. I ended up adoring that too! But that got traded in for a Honda CRV. I still miss (terribly at times!) the 2 aforementioned cars, and I will NOT say this to my husband – but I love the CRV! I need to go look up to see what a Ridgeline is…..
judy.blog@gmail.com says
It would be hard to find a better car than our CRV has been. Vince loves it and I think that’s why it’s so hard for him to consider getting a new car.
Anne Kirby says
I’ll never forget how shocked I was when I went to my sister-in-law’s house, and she put the water on to boil and left to go buy pasta!! ? Now THAT’S bad!!
Nelle Coursey says
I am with you! It is past time!
Liz A. says
We bought a 2022 CRV Hybrid in October and LOVE it! We checked out the Toyota RAV4 but the CRV was more comfortable. With gas prices here in central Washington state hovering at $5.19+ per gallon, it’s paying for itself quickly.
Linda Garcia says
We have a Toyota 4Runner and a Toyota Tacoma Truck, 4 doors with a camper shell in the back. For travel, we end up using the Tacoma because it has the bed (covered, so everything is safe and dry). My 4Runner has as much cargo space if I fold down the seats, but the Tacoma has the cargo space and the same seating that isn’t taken up with the cargo space vs seating issue. We end up filling up the back of the Tacoma, putting down the seats in the second row and the dogs ride in the cab with us. I love the Tacoma. It’s like having a car with twice the cargo space. It drives just as nice as the 4Runner and actually has more bells and whistles because it is 5 years newer than the 4Runner.
I think you would love having a Ridgeline. It’s like having the best of both worlds.
Linda in NE says
I’ve had two cars that the check engine light had a life of it’s own…would come on and shut off at will. Both had been checked by mechanics and we were told to just drive them until they became unreliable. When that happened I just traded the first one off and the second one….well I didn’t mean to wreck it, but that did get me a 10 yr. newer car without all the little things that could be fixed but never were.