dontforgetthelyrics
New member
I'm driving a 1998 buick regal, that's high mileage (about 165,000 miles). I drive about 300 - 400 miles a week.
About three months ago, the check engine light came on, shortly after the car sounded like it wanted to stall out (but didn't). It seemed like heavy smoke was blowing out of the exhaust pipe. Since then, it seems like a little more smoke than a normal amount is coming out of the exhaust pipe. Every once in awhile, it seems like the same thing will happen. I'll be out on the road at a stop light. When I push the gas pedal after the light turns green, the car will barely move, a whole bunch of smoke will come out of the exhaust pipe, and then finally I'll get up the car up to normal driving speed again (55 MPH and 60 MPH) and the excess exhaust will go back to a somewhat normal level.
When I took it to Auto Zone, the Check Engine scanner gave me the codes of PO300 (ignition system fault-spark plugs or vacuum leak or injector fault or high/low fuel pressure) or PO107/PO108 (vacuum hose off, cracked or passage blocked -or- throttle body intake tube loose, off or cracked -or- BARO/MAP defective -or- VAF MAF sensor dirty or defective).
About a month ago, my Low Coolant light starting coming on as well. It doesn't stay on repeatedly. It goes on and off. The temperature gauge always stays within a normal range (if it overheated, I would pull over immediately and stop driving). I also checked the oil and the oil appears to be the proper color - it doesn't appear that the coolant has mixed in with it. I can't seem to find a leak anywhere, though. I've been putting in about a gallon of coolant every couple weeks just to be safe. Sometimes, after I put coolant in, the light will still stay on for the next 50 miles, then after 50 miles it'll shut off, then it'll go 50 miles before it comes on again, and the process repeats. I'm confused as to why the low coolant light wouldn't shut off until 50 miles after I've added more coolant.
Are these problems interrelated or separate? Any ideas what they might be? I know I should just take it to a mechanic, but since I have a high mileage car I've been thinking of just getting a trade in instead. I don't want to put in any more money to a car I'm thinking about getting rid of than I have to. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
About three months ago, the check engine light came on, shortly after the car sounded like it wanted to stall out (but didn't). It seemed like heavy smoke was blowing out of the exhaust pipe. Since then, it seems like a little more smoke than a normal amount is coming out of the exhaust pipe. Every once in awhile, it seems like the same thing will happen. I'll be out on the road at a stop light. When I push the gas pedal after the light turns green, the car will barely move, a whole bunch of smoke will come out of the exhaust pipe, and then finally I'll get up the car up to normal driving speed again (55 MPH and 60 MPH) and the excess exhaust will go back to a somewhat normal level.
When I took it to Auto Zone, the Check Engine scanner gave me the codes of PO300 (ignition system fault-spark plugs or vacuum leak or injector fault or high/low fuel pressure) or PO107/PO108 (vacuum hose off, cracked or passage blocked -or- throttle body intake tube loose, off or cracked -or- BARO/MAP defective -or- VAF MAF sensor dirty or defective).
About a month ago, my Low Coolant light starting coming on as well. It doesn't stay on repeatedly. It goes on and off. The temperature gauge always stays within a normal range (if it overheated, I would pull over immediately and stop driving). I also checked the oil and the oil appears to be the proper color - it doesn't appear that the coolant has mixed in with it. I can't seem to find a leak anywhere, though. I've been putting in about a gallon of coolant every couple weeks just to be safe. Sometimes, after I put coolant in, the light will still stay on for the next 50 miles, then after 50 miles it'll shut off, then it'll go 50 miles before it comes on again, and the process repeats. I'm confused as to why the low coolant light wouldn't shut off until 50 miles after I've added more coolant.
Are these problems interrelated or separate? Any ideas what they might be? I know I should just take it to a mechanic, but since I have a high mileage car I've been thinking of just getting a trade in instead. I don't want to put in any more money to a car I'm thinking about getting rid of than I have to. Any help would be greatly appreciated!