Failed emissions, 3 Codes, Nothing fixes it. Long write up
Ok, so this may get a little winded but here's my dilema. 2003 ES 4 cyl. Bought the car off craigslist.
With no Check Engine light on and the car is driving fine, I take it to get my emissions test done. The guy tells me that the car failed and popped 3 codes (WTF):
P0421 (warm up catalyst), P0335 (crankshaft position sensor), P0340 (camshaft position sensor)
So, I'm curious to find out why the Check Engine light didnt come on. Randomly, I pull out the gauge cluster and BAM, the bulb had been removed. F me right?
I put in a bulb and sure enough it lights up. Take the car to autozone and get the codes read again just to triple check for my reference, same 3 pop up.
Moment of truth: I'm not that mechanically inclined. Simple adjustments, modifications, oil changes, etc. I'm comfortable with, but lack of space, knowledge, tools is holding me back at the moment. SO...
I go to my trusted mechanic and tell him the issue. He says before we dive into anything, lets clear the codes and see what happens. Maybe some of those codes were stored/memory? If the light pops up, check the codes right away. Sure enough, less than 200 feet from the shop, the light pops up. This time its only P0335/P0340
At this point, I don't have the time to leave it at the shop and decided to hang onto it for a few more days. Get the codes checked again after a few days and now its all 3 again: P0421/ P0335 / P0340 Keep in mind, the car drives fine and has no issues other than this light. BUT I need to pass emissions by May 31st
I decide to bite the bullet and let him fix the cam/crank sensors and see whatsup with the cat/02 issue. He goes and puts in the cam/crank sensor and calls to tell me there's a problem. The Check Engine light popped back on with the same codes. Seemingly, this has nothing to do with the sensors.
Now after looking through the car, spending 10+ hours on it, he's under the impression this engine is the wrong year for the car and that the computer was never changed. He thinks that IF we changed the computer to match the year of the engine, it would fix this issue. Problem is we don't know what year this engine is from and cannot identify it. Talking to Jigz who has an 02 engine with 00 computer, he thinks this wouldn't make a difference.
At this point myself and the mechanic are equally frustrated. He's got a shop to run and can't spend all his time on this car. Granted, it's not his fault that this May be a different engine. He did his job by changing the sensors, but still I need my car to pass. He feels terrible and doesnt even know what to charge me for his work. So I have no idea what to do at this point. I'll be wasting money trying to figure this out, he's wasting time on it when he's got other cars in his shop to fix...
Any ideas of why these codes would be popping up? How to identify the engine? How to solve my issue??
I went to get my car last night. Still haven't paid him for anything. I've used this guy for a couple years and have trusted him, but to be honest I think he's getting in over his head with business and is short staffed. He put my car back together and drove it and said everythings fine (minus the codes). I get it, drive it and it starts to shake a bit. Pop the hood and the #1 spark plug boot it slightly off. Put it back, no more issue. Go to my car this morning to go to work and the fucker won't start. Sounds like its trying but wont turn over. A few attempts and I get it, but then it dies. Struggle a few more times, get it to turn on, the idle drops low and dies. I also notice this harness under the hood is out of place and out of the loom. Never noticed that before.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps9c0f943d.jpg
Any info/help is much appreciated!! I need to get this car tested and my plate stickers renewed.