Joined
·
2 Posts
Hello all.
So I'm driving a 2012 Dodge Avenger SXT plus. It's my baby, bought it in 2015 with 22k miles when I was 21 and here I am 8 years and 100k miles later. Given how awful the automobile market has been I've been opting to repair it over trade it in, last 3k miles I've replaced the alternator, front suspension, new rotors, any other general wear and tear thing.
6 months ago I went to gun it to pass a car, this triggered limp mode(I think?) and my engine cut off, wouldn't start back up. All dash lights lit up, the last one being the red lightning bolt between two brackets, no lasting dash lights. Tow it to a very trusted mechanic... and it starts back up like nothing happened. No diagnostics codes, mechanic suggests taking it to the dealership. Dealership keeps it for 4 days, drives it around... nothing, they give it back. I drive it for 5 months without any hiccups. I get an oil change, full tank of gas, and I head to work. Car's driving just fine, I go to pass a semi on the highway and it cuts out again. Get to the shoulder, my odometer reads "GASCAP." Tow it to the dealership, and again they can't solve it. They have a hypothesis it's the fuel pump, but don't want to suggest it because they have no codes, give it back and I keep driving. My working hypothesis is there's some sort of malfunction along my fuel vacuum system but again... nothing to back that up. I even try to recreate the scenario by getting a full tank of gas and driving like a stole it.... no problems whatsoever.
I finally get a check engine light two days ago, Autozone reads it as "P0430" meaning "Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold(Bank 2)". It suggests a new Catalytic Converter and Exhaust Flange Gasket. I'm not the most knowledgeable about engine repair, but I'm very hesitant to take it in as I feel a mechanic is gonna default to making himself a fat paycheck off of a new catalytic converter. I feel like if my cat was so damaged and not working correctly my car would cut out more often than once every 5-6 months. Just really trying to avoid putting $1500+ into a decade old car and hoping there's perhaps something cheaper that could be at fault.
I also have liquid pooling underneath it under the rear end and I can't tell if that's condensation build up.
And again, I am not a mechanically inclined person. I can fix most electrical issues with my car, but I am clueless when it comes to engine repair.
thanks in advance.
So I'm driving a 2012 Dodge Avenger SXT plus. It's my baby, bought it in 2015 with 22k miles when I was 21 and here I am 8 years and 100k miles later. Given how awful the automobile market has been I've been opting to repair it over trade it in, last 3k miles I've replaced the alternator, front suspension, new rotors, any other general wear and tear thing.
6 months ago I went to gun it to pass a car, this triggered limp mode(I think?) and my engine cut off, wouldn't start back up. All dash lights lit up, the last one being the red lightning bolt between two brackets, no lasting dash lights. Tow it to a very trusted mechanic... and it starts back up like nothing happened. No diagnostics codes, mechanic suggests taking it to the dealership. Dealership keeps it for 4 days, drives it around... nothing, they give it back. I drive it for 5 months without any hiccups. I get an oil change, full tank of gas, and I head to work. Car's driving just fine, I go to pass a semi on the highway and it cuts out again. Get to the shoulder, my odometer reads "GASCAP." Tow it to the dealership, and again they can't solve it. They have a hypothesis it's the fuel pump, but don't want to suggest it because they have no codes, give it back and I keep driving. My working hypothesis is there's some sort of malfunction along my fuel vacuum system but again... nothing to back that up. I even try to recreate the scenario by getting a full tank of gas and driving like a stole it.... no problems whatsoever.
I finally get a check engine light two days ago, Autozone reads it as "P0430" meaning "Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold(Bank 2)". It suggests a new Catalytic Converter and Exhaust Flange Gasket. I'm not the most knowledgeable about engine repair, but I'm very hesitant to take it in as I feel a mechanic is gonna default to making himself a fat paycheck off of a new catalytic converter. I feel like if my cat was so damaged and not working correctly my car would cut out more often than once every 5-6 months. Just really trying to avoid putting $1500+ into a decade old car and hoping there's perhaps something cheaper that could be at fault.
I also have liquid pooling underneath it under the rear end and I can't tell if that's condensation build up.
And again, I am not a mechanically inclined person. I can fix most electrical issues with my car, but I am clueless when it comes to engine repair.
thanks in advance.
