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by spunky on June 14th, 2007

spunky

Question

Help answer this question below.

I just bought a 2004 kia optima with 53, 000 miles. last night the check engine light came on
and i took it to a mechanic. He said it was the
catalitic converter due to enthenol in gas. is
this a problem. i just bought this car yesterday

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Answers. 5 helpful answers below.

  • by Anonymous on October 12th, 2009

    Anonymous

    I just bought another 2004 kia optima due to my first optima was in a accident with 180 k miles. I went to the dealer ship to see what all has been done to the car. He said it was brought in for a check engine lite on and they replaced the gas cap try this first.Please replace your timing belt and balance belt too at 60k t 70k Don't wait till it breaks while your driving cause it will also damage your head and the crank shaft sensor as well which you can only get it at the dealer for 130 dollars. I prefer to spend 300 instead of 1500.00 which i had to do with my first KIA OPTIMA This is my second 2004 Kia optima so I kinda know what already goes wrong with this car. It's a great car as long as your maintain all the belts before they break.

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  • by TheCodeScanners on September 12th, 2008

    TheCodeScanners

    God do I hate negative people, Jeffers he asked you to see if you could help, lol your a mechanic let me guess? Mostly Crooks and Asses.

    Please Spunky buy the one thing that pisses MOST if not all Mechanic off.

    http://www.partsamerica.com/codereaders.aspx

    Go to this site. This is a tool called a Code Scanner and whenever your "CHECK ENGINE" light comes on you can plug it in and its easy to do going to advanced auto parts they will show you how for free and once you do it once its simple.
    Plug this in and not only w1ill it give you the code and tell you the problem it will also troubleshoot the problem so the light will go away.
    This is a pretty expensive tool but try adding the bills after they crooks Diagonis your car for $80-$100 plus what it costs to fix the car which normally they crooks will tell you something needs to be replaced that really doesnt need to be replaced its how MOST mechanics are even at your local dealership.

    Also give this a try find out what is wrong with the car w1ith this tool then take it to the Mechanic and test him see what he says is wrong wi1th your car and if he says something completely different you know he's a crook and you caught him Red Handed I suggest then you take your car to another Dealership of that car and find a Mechanic who will tell the truth about whats wrong with the vechicle and if you find a good/honest mechanic DONT LOSE HIM hard to find one.

    Hope this helps you I know it will. :)

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by justsomeguy on March 11th, 2008

    justsomeguy

    I am the original owner of a 2004 Kia Optima that now has 62000 miles on it. When it had about 17000 on it, I took it through what was considered the top-notch, pampered car wash in the area. Whatever chemicals were involved in the tri-foam wax, the car didn't like it. The Check Engine light went on and stayed on for the next two days. Then it went out, and hasn't come back on since. I've also avoided said car wash.

    If you have a mechanic telling you to replace the catalytic, for god sakes get a second opinion. And do NOT tell the 2nd mechanic what the first one said. The Optima is touchy - don't go replacing something that dramatic without at least a 2nd opinion.

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  • by geek860 on June 14th, 2007

    geek860

    Read the owner's manual. Some cars (GM) can take up to 85% ethanol in the tank, some others (my 06 civic for example) can take 5% ethanol, and some can take none without negative side effects. Where did you fill up the gas tank? Read the owner's manual and see what it says about ethanol content in the gas. You say the mechanic told you 'it was the catalitic converter due to enthenol in gas' (it's spelt catalytic) but you don't tell us what the actual problem is. Is it clogged? False alarm? Please let us know exactly what he said. If there's an issue you may need to replace th cat converter, or if it's a false alarm then you just need to stay away from 'gasahol'.

    If you're ever in doubt then just don't fill up at a Husky or Mohawk station - they both use ethanol at 10% by volume.

    Hope this helps,
    Good luck

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by Jeffers on June 14th, 2007

    Jeffers

    I can't tell you if the diagnosis is correct, or how to solve it, but unless you bought that car from a dealer with a warranty, or an "unconditional cooling off period" - enjoy your new car!

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