[LacyTheLegend]

My legend has ISSUES...

I picked it up from the shop today after a weeklong visit to repair a BHG. While driving it home the check engine light comes on. I also notice that it is idling hard...every few seconds it will shake a bit. I also notice this happens when I begin accelerating, and when coming to a stop. When accelerating, there is white smoke from the exhaust too.

When we arrive home I notice that it is overheating!!! I called the shop and tell him I am bringing the car back...it overheats twice on the way to the shop, and we finally leave it at a gas station. This afternoon the mechanic calls me and said I'll have to wait until thursday to find out why the check engine light is still on. He said the overheating was either the thermostat or radiator. He replaced the thermostat, for free, and said after he drove it, the temp gauge was not rising even to the halfway point. He said that the smoke is from either coolant (I think), or oil.
Here is what throws me for a loop...the hard idling is MOST LIKELY a cyclinder not firing. Does this have anything to do with the BHG repair?? The car NEVER did this before going to the shop. Also, shouldn't I worry that the new head gasket could now be blown? The mechanic said that it would not be blown from overheating once or twice, but I have read differently on this forum. I have a 30 day warranty on the labor. What do you guys think??

 

[LacyTheLegend]

Was the check engine light fixed or is it still on while the car misfires?

The car begins misfiring almost right away...after I drive a mile or so the check engine light will come on. It has done this for a few months though. I just assumed it was the BHG, but like I said, I have to wait until thursday if I want to take it back to the same mechanic. I'm not too worried about this just because it could be so many different minor problems that may have co-existed with the BHG.

 

[LacyTheLegend]

Replace the radiator if it has not been replaced in the last 100k miles( a clogged radiator is the #1 killer of these cars. I Know, been there done that).
the radiator may be what caused you to blowthe head gasket in the first place.

as for the running issue. I'm pretty sure that you spent a good deal of money on the BHG. If it is not running right take it back.
and last but not least take a car knowledgable guy with you. Some mechanics take advantage of women. sad but true.
just keep your cool when dealing with them. remember more flies with honey.
if they don't make good. thats when you tell them to Go Fk Yourselves!! and take your business somewhere else.

The radiator was replaced less than a year ago. The mechanic said the BHG causes the radiator to eventually go bad??? and my room mate said it was hissing today after overheating. The mechanic later credited the overheating to the thermostat rather than the radiator. I hope this fixes the problem rather than another new radiator!
I did pay a lot for the BHG job, this being why I am very concerned about the cyclinder misfiring, and if it has ANY connection to the HG. Like I said before, this was a non issue prior to having the BHG repaired last week, and has just now surfaced since picking the car up today.

 

[LacyTheLegend]

That sucks. Take it back and make them do it right.

I don't think they even know what is wrong!

 

[LacyTheLegend]

I didn't think it was a BHG-unless it happened today when the car overheated. I am wondering if the HG has anything to do with the misfiring cyclinder since the problem began after the shop had my car.

 

[LacyTheLegend]

Probably is a dead coil pack. I'll find out thursday still.

Last night the car overheated again, but it is acting a bit strange! The temp gauge doesn't red line (stays between the top 2 white lines on the dash). Also, the car does not feel hot at all. The headers get warm. I noticed that the fans did not come on, but the weather was below freezing last night. I let it cool down for a good hour, and tried to drive it home. Before I could get out of the parking lot, the temp was at the halfway point, and another 1 1/2 minutes later the gauge was reading right below the top white line. headers were warm, fans not on, radiator was not hissing. I felt like I could have driven it home, but I had such a ways to go that I just left it.

 

[LacyTheLegend]

yeah, I thought I'd just let the shop tow it on monday to stay on the safe side

 

[LacyTheLegend]

I FINALLY picked up the Legend up today. The mechanic had put the head gasket on backwards. (spare me lee! ) With the HG replacement the mechanic changed the spark plugs, but not spark plug wires, the car is still misfiring and the mechanic has told me to take the car to another shop that can 1. find out which cyclinder is misfiring, 2. why my check engine light is still coming on. If these issues are related to the HG, the shop will pick up the bill. I am just thinking that since the cyclinder issue began after the spark plugs were replaced, that this problem is not a random. Also, it seems like the exhaust is expelling a little too much white smoke when I accelerate. There is just a little white smoke when the car is idling. How do I determine what is normal compared to what is too much?

 

[LacyTheLegend]

IT OVERHEATED AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[LacyTheLegend]

just tried to call you lee, I dont have your number on my caller id anymore