Expert: Skip Bollinger - 7/17/2007

Question
Skip, my car all of a sudden began not starting for no apparent reason. This actually began about a year ago, and is  increasingly getting worse. It has even just died while I am driving down the road. All I have to do is WAIT sometimes 5 minutes sometimes an hour, and it will start! I am getting pretty tired of wasting my time and need to get it fixed. Sounds like it is not getting fuel! Maybe a Fuel pump, filter? What do you think, and what about a fair price to have it fixed? I am a Christian woman and my husband is blind and cannot help me at all. Thank you in advance for all you do! I appreciate you! Wanda Brown

Answer
Wanda,
  First of all, I'm not qualified to answer your question but will give you my thoughts. If you look at my profile, I'm a Parts Professional, NOT a tech. Your question will need to be an open conversation as it raises a lot of questions from me (and my group of Tech Customers).
  Second, don't count out your husband. When one looses a sense, the others kick in at a height you and I don't understand. His sense of smell, hearing and touch are way above ours. Here we go...
  What repairs have you had done, if any? It doesn't sound like a fuel problem, it sounds more like electrical. Have you had the computer "scanned"? When a computer controlled vehicle dies, it "sets" a code in the computer. One needs a special "reader" to withdraw the code to tell the mechanic what area is at fault. Have you done this? MOST MAJOR Auto Part chains have a code reader you can rent or they will take it out into the parking lot and scan your computer for you. Their goal is to help you fix your car by selling you parts. Just be cautious with the code reader. It will tell you there is a problem, with say, the Oxygen Sensor. The Oxygen Sensor has about 10' of wiring. The problem may be in the Oxygen Sensor area but it could be a problem with the wires, NOT the Sensor itself. Does this make sense?
  Imagine your house totally computer controlled. Your stove doesn't work to you call the technician. He tells you there is a problem with the Stove. It could be the stove OR the wires going to it but all the scanner says is the stove doesn't work. It COULD be the stove but it COULD be the PLUG or it COULD be the wires from the fuse box going to the plug. It is the same way with a car. All the scanner will tell you is you have a problem with a circuit. It will identify the circuit but NOT PINPOINT the problem. You need to have a Professional do that and a GOOD one is hard to find. IF you do, be prepared to pay. He is worth it. You can take the car to 5 "shade tree mechanics" and spend hundreds of dollars but if you take it to a REAL mechanic, he may charge $70.00 per hour but if he fixes the car in 2 hours, you saved money.
  Hey, do you have a Vo-Tech school in your area? If you have the time to leave the car, you can have the students "examine" your car, learn and fix it for very little money. They will charge you for the part but next to nothing for labor.
   I have asked a lot of questions and expect to hear from you. I want to get your car fixed but need specific information for me to take to my Techs. Let me know... My wife says I have to go strip wall paper off a wall so she can paint it. Again, keep in touch..
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