My daughter has a 2009 Kia Optima with 165,000 miles. The check engine light is now on and she hasn’t yet had it evaluated diagnostically. She changes the oil every 3,000 miles and it runs great.
Ideas?
We would need to see any codes as a result of a scan. Or a detailed description of any symptoms, misfire, poor idle, etc.
Until you scan for codes no diagnosis is possible.
Did you check the FAQ? Specifically, the link that says "I am getting a trouble light on my dash. What do I do?"
What if your car doesn't have "codes" what then?
Are we to trust code readers to be mechanics?
What do you mean? Codes provide valuable data that you or mechanics can use in the troubleshooting process. If the light is on, there WILL be codes.
no, i meant if your car doesn't have codes, like an 95 or older
A 1995 model car would have an OBD1 system, which still provides some diagnostic information, but not nearly as much. So in that case the person working on the car would need to perform more testing with instruments and gauges in order to pinpoint the fault. Modern cars have sensors built in which eliminate the need for much of that. Older cars were also simpler, so you could get away with cruder diagnostics. If you would like to know more about working on old cars, then please post your own new question because it's totally irrelevant to this one about a 2009 car.
Yeah but this has nothing to do with "trusting computers to do humans' work" this is about helping both the owner and the mechanic in maintaining the vehicle...
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The MIL (Malfunction Indicator Light / "Check engine light") is to assist the owner and let him know that his car has a fault.
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OBDII is to help the mechanic figure out what has gone out of spec and what symptoms he needs to take care of.
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> "What if your car doesn't have 'codes' what then?"
(as in "you're too reliant on OBD2 data, what if your car wouldn't have self diagnostics?")
sounds to me like "what if you didn't have a fridge what then?",
And the answer is the same, life would be worse without it, I'm glad we have it.