The engine light has been on for a while. When I start the car, the ignition cranks for a lonnnng time before finally starting. It recently has gotten bad enough to where I have to let it crank before it quits and it starts when I try a second time. There is also a pungent oil smell and a hollow sound coming from the car when it finally does start. What should I be expecting the mechanic to say? How much should it cost?
That honestly sounds like a few problems combine. It's sounds like you have an exhaust leak,the smell leads me to that conclusion. However the trouble starting sounds to me as though you might be having a problem with an O2 sensor or Mass air flow. These are somewhat all interconnected.Because say your O2 sensor somehow is getting a leak past it on the exhaust you would smell it have troubles starting(the car wouldn't know how much fuel to give) and The mass wouldn't know how to adjust the amount of air let into the car for it to work properly-Or I am entirely wrong and could be something else all together. But that is my crazy theory.
That honestly sounds like a few problems combine. It's sounds like you have an exhaust leak,the smell leads me to that conclusion. However the trouble starting sounds to me as though you might be having a problem with an O2 sensor or Mass air flow. These are somewhat all interconnected.Because say your O2 sensor somehow is getting a leak past it on the exhaust you would smell it have troubles starting(the car wouldn't know how much fuel to give) and The mass wouldn't know how to adjust the amount of air let into the car for it to work properly-Or I am entirely wrong and could be something else all together. But that is my crazy theory.
