CEL problem - seemingly strange diagnosis from dealer
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CEL problem - seemingly strange diagnosis from dealer
I'd appreciate any thoughts on this:
As I mentioned in another thread, I picked up a 2002 Mini Cooper on the cheap with the CEL light on. I need to get it inspected in NYS, so I took it to the dealer to deal with the CEL after buying it.
After first drop off, they call me up to say there are no problems -- they cleared the code and it didn't come back so it was probably a fluke (possibly related to an aftermarket air filter, they said). Pay us $250 and come get your car. I was happy.
I go to pick up the car and they pull it out for me and the CEL is on. "Oops," they say, "it was fine earlier." They tell me that the problem will require more intensive investigation, and that they will do a smoke test.
Three days later (today) I get a call from them. They did the smoke test and saw no leaks. Then they looked at the 02 sensors and noticed that they had BOTH shorted out and, they said, damaged the DME. (The same DME that had been giving a P2096 code triggering the CEL.)
They want $2,700 for the repair -- $1435 for the DME, $289 for two new O2 sensors, and 4 hours of labor.
My questions: Is it unreasonable not to have done an inspection of the sensors in the first place, and certainly prior to a smoke test? How much confidence should I have that the DME is indeed damaged, given that it was not previously evident? What would you experts do here?
Thanks!
As I mentioned in another thread, I picked up a 2002 Mini Cooper on the cheap with the CEL light on. I need to get it inspected in NYS, so I took it to the dealer to deal with the CEL after buying it.
After first drop off, they call me up to say there are no problems -- they cleared the code and it didn't come back so it was probably a fluke (possibly related to an aftermarket air filter, they said). Pay us $250 and come get your car. I was happy.
I go to pick up the car and they pull it out for me and the CEL is on. "Oops," they say, "it was fine earlier." They tell me that the problem will require more intensive investigation, and that they will do a smoke test.
Three days later (today) I get a call from them. They did the smoke test and saw no leaks. Then they looked at the 02 sensors and noticed that they had BOTH shorted out and, they said, damaged the DME. (The same DME that had been giving a P2096 code triggering the CEL.)
They want $2,700 for the repair -- $1435 for the DME, $289 for two new O2 sensors, and 4 hours of labor.
My questions: Is it unreasonable not to have done an inspection of the sensors in the first place, and certainly prior to a smoke test? How much confidence should I have that the DME is indeed damaged, given that it was not previously evident? What would you experts do here?
Thanks!
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