Car Question

[CMPunk]

Thecar is a 07 Caliber and it was sitting plugged in for over a week due to me being out of the country. Started it last night with no issue and then let it run a bit before I left to work today. The engine light came on 5 minutes into the drive. Just wondering if this might be due to it sitting for so long or if I should take it in for a look?

[BlackArcher101]

I don't believe leaving it plugged in would cause a trouble code (I shudder at your next power bill though).

You can swing by Autozone and they will use a code reader for free to find the code. You can then take the code and look it up on the net if they don't give you a description of it. It could be anything from loose gas cap to stuck thermostat.

[metallicat]

I know with my car, if my fuel cap comes loose, I get a check engine light that comes on. After I tighten the cap, it goes away after a little while. That could possibly be why you are getting the warning.

[Bill Bumface]

Plugging your car in for over a week? Ouch... you realize plugging it in for 30 minutes when you got back would have had the same benefit, right?

But yeah, if it isn't the fuel cap you should take it in and get it checked out, especially since it's under warranty so free to do so.

[PIMking]

Just a good ole Check engine light. Take it to auto zone and have them check it for you. report back with what it says. Im thinking an o2 sensor.

[Ironhorse]

You may have some moisture frozen in the throttle body that is triggering a sensor condition. Give it a bit of time, let the car warm up to proper temperature, take it for a drive etc. If all else fails, Chrysler should be able to look at it / fix it under warranty.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

You may have some moisture frozen in the throttle body that is triggering a sensor condition. Give it a bit of time, let the car warm up to proper temperature, take it for a drive etc. If all else fails, Chrysler should be able to look at it / fix it under warranty.

Unless they go under between now and Friday

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Plugging your car in for over a week? Ouch... you realize plugging it in for 30 minutes when you got back would have had the same benefit, right?

But yeah, if it isn't the fuel cap you should take it in and get it checked out, especially since it's under warranty so free to do so.

I would suggest you plug it it a little longer than 30 mins. 1-2 hours for the kind of cold we have had.

http://autos.canada.com/winterdrivin...1-7fdc2a625b10

Some cost numbers:

Some math: Climate Change Central, an energy-use watchdog, reports that a block heater uses eight times more energy than a refrigerator. If a block heater uses 450 watts (0.45 kWh) of electricity at an average of $0.09/kWh, then one night equals $0.41 and two hours equals $0.08.

[Titan]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Unless they go under between now and Friday

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

Some math: Climate Change Central, an energy-use watchdog, reports that a block heater uses eight times more energy than a refrigerator. If a block heater uses 450 watts (0.45 kWh) of electricity at an average of $0.09/kWh, then one night equals $0.41 and two hours equals $0.08.

Or $6.80 for a week straight

[automaton 3]

Surely your car is still under warranty...take it back to the dealership.

Check your fuel cap first though, as suggested above.

[pope04]

Originally Posted by CMPunk

The engine light came on 5 minutes into the drive.

A half-inch length of electrical tape should do the trick.