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2005 Mazda 3

Question: engine light was on

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Hennessy, Hillsboro, OR, September 10, 2010, 14:46

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The only indication is engine light. Manual says to look at gas cap and we did and it is on properly. Took it in and they said a valve was sticking open and replaced the gas cap any way and cost me $360.00. Is this really possible?

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• Answer #1

  Superbob September 13, 2010, 10:50
  

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  You aren't giving me much to go on. Do you know what the trouble code was? If the check engine light was on there is code(s) stored which would tell me a lot. Was there a valve replaced or just the gascap? If some emission or engine control part was replaced and it fixed it, then $360 is very likely a fair price. For a diagnosis and only a gascap (did it fix it???) $360 sounds very high. A basic diagnosis is about $100 and a gascap is maybe $20. if the gascap was tested and leaked, you needed a new one. If not, I wouldn't have sold one.
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  Hennessy, September 14, 2010, 12:29
  

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  I looked it up on the receipt and it was called a purge valve for 157.20. Yes the problem is fixed but we were curious to the cost. Seemed really high. But then again everything does these days.
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  Visitor, April 02, 2011, 20:49

  Yup I had the same thing. BTW, I skipped the so-called diagnosis, they basically would just plug a scanner into the car to read an error code. I purchased my own scanner for $50, read the code, and googled. Sure enough it's the purge valve. Saved $50 and now I have a code reader that will work on all cars. :)
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