It's always fun when the rental gets a check engine light

"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee)
03/13/2017 at 19:25 • Filed to: None

UPDATE: Drove 45 min to the nearest Budget and for the trouble they upgraded me to an Optima (which, hot damn Kia, you’ve come a long way) and told me not to bother filling the tank on the Dart.

Original text: And if course I’m a billion miles from the nearest Budget rental place. Car is a 201x Dart with 33k miles that until now I’ve been pretty impressed with.

DISCUSSION (29)

CalzoneGolem > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
03/13/2017 at 12:26

Have you tried turning it on and off again?

Stapleface > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
03/13/2017 at 12:28

Damn, that sucks. They should have to come bring you another car and pick that one up. I doubt they will, mind you, but they should have known better than renting out a Dart.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > CalzoneGolem
03/13/2017 at 12:29

Yes.

CalzoneGolem > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
03/13/2017 at 12:29

I’m out of ideas.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Stapleface
03/13/2017 at 12:31

So far I’ve liked it. In many ways it reminds me of my old Neon. Cheap, cheerful, and chuckable.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > CalzoneGolem
03/13/2017 at 12:33

If only I had thought ahead and brought my scantool on vacation with me.

facw > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
03/13/2017 at 12:34

I’ve never had that in a rental car, but I did have a U-Haul with the check engine light on from the start. They told me to ignore it.

bwp240 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
03/13/2017 at 12:34

Kinja'd!!!

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
03/13/2017 at 12:34

Call their 800-number. Ask them to bring you another car.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
03/13/2017 at 12:35

Bluetooth? Aren’t those the absolute BOMB?

CalzoneGolem > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
03/13/2017 at 12:36

A lot of parts stores will let you borrow one.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > CalzoneGolem
03/13/2017 at 12:41

Or I could drive 45 mins to the nearest Budget and demand a free upgrade for the trouble. I’m supposed to have the car until friday.

area man > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
03/13/2017 at 12:47

Gas cap?

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > area man
03/13/2017 at 12:48

Haven’t put gas in it yet.

PartyPooper2012 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
03/13/2017 at 12:50

you can try one of the following

get some electric tape and tape over the CEL
If you don’t have electric tape, find an evergreen and use a leaf to cover the light
Find a nearby electronics store. Buy Note 7. Use the lighter app to light the car on fire.

CalzoneGolem > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
03/13/2017 at 12:56

Drive it like you rented it!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
03/13/2017 at 13:14

As long as you are not too far from civilization I would just keep driving it.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
03/13/2017 at 13:50

Does it still run OK? Probably something minor like an O2 sensor.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
03/13/2017 at 13:58

FCA.

Discerning > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
03/13/2017 at 19:40

A dodge product with a lit up check engine light?

Now I’ve seen everything

/sarcasm

Sorry you got saddled with that pos

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
03/13/2017 at 19:44

Re: the Optima -

It’s really really nice, huh? Friend of mine bought a 13 brand new and didn’t even have maintenance items need repair until 110k miles. It’s a good bargain for a boring car.

shop-teacher > facw
03/13/2017 at 19:46

Uhaul, never again.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
03/13/2017 at 20:06

I had the optima last summer for about 600 miles of pavement pounding, I liked it a lot. 190 HP is nice in a 4 banger.

Bourbon&JellyBeans > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
03/13/2017 at 20:07

I had a Dart rental for like 12 hours once. It developed a weird noise from the engine compartment just in the half-day I had it. Pieces of unequivocal crap.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
03/13/2017 at 20:07

It feels more like 150

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
03/13/2017 at 20:09

To me it felt similar if a bit more peppy than a 4-cy camary.

gin-san - shitpost specialist > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
03/13/2017 at 20:16

The Dart looks like a decent car but I see so few of them around here. Did Dodge/FCA ever make a hot version of this car?

As far as Kia goes: yes, they’ve come a very long way.

pjhusa > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
03/13/2017 at 20:46

It’s always fun when the rental has a burger under the hood:

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/so-whats-under-the-hood-1792370677

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
03/13/2017 at 22:02

My dad owns a base 2014 Optima and it’s pretty nice, definitely doesn’t feel poverty spec.