Hertz rental car problem - advice please
Discussion
Good evening/morning all! I'm in sunny Southern California at the moment and am almost half way through a 2 week stay. We arrived last Sunday and promptly picked up our rental car from LAX. I prepaid for two weeks through auto Europe and we aren't due to take the car back until a week Tuesday. On Tuesday we drove 300 miles faultlessly to vegas and parked the car up in a very hot car park at the cosmopolitan until yesterday morning. I got in it yesterday and turned it on with no problems but the engine light came on straight away. It drove fun but the light stayed on and has remained on since. Is the best thing for me to do to just take it back to hertz at LAX now we are back in California and just let them change it for another car? Or just keep driving it for the remainder of our trip? As I said it's already paid for so don't see why I would incur anymore charges if there is an issue with their car? Any feedback appreciated!
Just take it back to any decent size hertz location, tell them its broken and can you have another one. if you can go to the pickup or drop off location all the better.
our last one we picked up, whilst it seemed old and a bit tatty in the garage we were just a little disappointed, that was until we got it out into proper light, it was the most grimy car i have ever had, felt like i needed a shower just from sitting in it, took it straight back for another, took it straight to the returns line and told them i was exchanging it so they didn't close off the contract, and went to the office for another one, had to wait a few minutes for them to bring one around but all was pleasant and apologetic.
If you want to be more cautious most rental places have somewhere where you can park up first and go in for a chat about the problem before you put the car into the return line.
our last one we picked up, whilst it seemed old and a bit tatty in the garage we were just a little disappointed, that was until we got it out into proper light, it was the most grimy car i have ever had, felt like i needed a shower just from sitting in it, took it straight back for another, took it straight to the returns line and told them i was exchanging it so they didn't close off the contract, and went to the office for another one, had to wait a few minutes for them to bring one around but all was pleasant and apologetic.
If you want to be more cautious most rental places have somewhere where you can park up first and go in for a chat about the problem before you put the car into the return line.
Just visit your local Hertz office, they will exchange the car for whatever they have on the lot. Just don't let them down grade you due to availability....
As the car got very hot, check the fuel cap is secure, just remove it and put it back on, it may solve the CEL - it's a common problem in the US.
Considering it is just a CEL then they'll be pretty happy that the car drove back
As the car got very hot, check the fuel cap is secure, just remove it and put it back on, it may solve the CEL - it's a common problem in the US.
Considering it is just a CEL then they'll be pretty happy that the car drove back
what was your fuel option at pick up, if you picked the return full option just fill up before you take it back like you would a return, if you pre purchased you may have a "discussion" on your hands regarding the remaining fuel and the value of the fuel in the new car.
As toohuge said though the CEL light could be a lot of very minor issues as a lot of them are emission technicalities and as he said that includes the gas cap not being tight.
Try goggling the car type to see if there are any ignition key combinations that will display the ODB2 code via light flashes, or if it has an on-board computer and display it may just be a case of finding the right page on the dash menu. If its not obvious from the dash display you can google the odb2 code once you have it and decide if its something silly that can be cleared or ignored or if it needs a tow truck. My bet is something silly. Nb many CEL codes can clear themselves once the fault has gone, but it can take a couple of dive cycles to achieve. At a push you could try stopping in at autozone to borrow a scan/reset tool from their loan a tool program, but to be honest if you are near an airport my original advice stands and just take it back if you cant check it out quickly yourself.
As toohuge said though the CEL light could be a lot of very minor issues as a lot of them are emission technicalities and as he said that includes the gas cap not being tight.
Try goggling the car type to see if there are any ignition key combinations that will display the ODB2 code via light flashes, or if it has an on-board computer and display it may just be a case of finding the right page on the dash menu. If its not obvious from the dash display you can google the odb2 code once you have it and decide if its something silly that can be cleared or ignored or if it needs a tow truck. My bet is something silly. Nb many CEL codes can clear themselves once the fault has gone, but it can take a couple of dive cycles to achieve. At a push you could try stopping in at autozone to borrow a scan/reset tool from their loan a tool program, but to be honest if you are near an airport my original advice stands and just take it back if you cant check it out quickly yourself.
steveo3002 said:
dont fudge around trying to fix it , either turn up at the nearest office or call their number say you dont trust driving it and they'l fetch one to you, when ever ive had issues they dont worry about the fuel
should be very simple - they must get it alot
Agreed - don't bother filling it up if swapping it. should be very simple - they must get it alot
My record is 5 swaps in one (longer ) rental period - nothing charged for fuel at all.
agreed, to all the above.
Take it to the Hertz major office on Gilespie street near the airport. All the other Hertz offices in vegas just get their cars from the airport for prebooked cars. Drop it off and tell them not to close you out and that you're changing cars due to a problem with this one. Right next to the drop off there is the Gold office, I'd just walk in there explain the light is on, and that you want to get something else, you'll be fine. Hertz LA recently crashed Vegas's Ferrari, so they might give you a decent LA car just to spite them...
Take it to the Hertz major office on Gilespie street near the airport. All the other Hertz offices in vegas just get their cars from the airport for prebooked cars. Drop it off and tell them not to close you out and that you're changing cars due to a problem with this one. Right next to the drop off there is the Gold office, I'd just walk in there explain the light is on, and that you want to get something else, you'll be fine. Hertz LA recently crashed Vegas's Ferrari, so they might give you a decent LA car just to spite them...
Thanks for the help guys! Car is a 2013 mazda cox-5 with almost 60k miles! Whilst you mention the fuel filler cap, I now remember that when I filled it up first in vegas after 400 miles the fuel filler cap was loose so this was probably the issue but doesn't seem the engine light will reset now without plugging it in so I'm just going to take it back to LAX this morning
jimmyt1202 said:
Thanks for the help guys! Car is a 2013 mazda cox-5 with almost 60k miles! Whilst you mention the fuel filler cap, I now remember that when I filled it up first in vegas after 400 miles the fuel filler cap was loose so this was probably the issue but doesn't seem the engine light will reset now without plugging it in so I'm just going to take it back to LAX this morning
Why bother? if it is an actual problem I'd hate to be stuck between Vegas and LA! just turn it in at vegas and get them to replace it!thetrash said:
The Camaro I've hired from them at the moment has got an annoying heat shield type noise coming from the back somewhere. I'll be taking it back when in San Diego day after next.
What's it like? I've got a Camaro booked for next week, I'll have it for 8 days and a couple of thousand miles so it'll be nice to know if its any good. I'm not looking to tear up the streets just after a decent ride and as there's only 2 of us decided on the Camaro as I like the looks and it was cheap!Campo said:
What's it like? I've got a Camaro booked for next week, I'll have it for 8 days and a couple of thousand miles so it'll be nice to know if its any good. I'm not looking to tear up the streets just after a decent ride and as there's only 2 of us decided on the Camaro as I like the looks and it was cheap!
It's pretty good, it's not great round corners but there aren't many of them. The noise of the V8 at full chat never stops me from smiling but they do drive really slow so it's a bit point and squirt. It's comfy enough over distances, it tramlines a bit too, I'd definitely hire another one. It's even given 18mpg.....so the computer says anyways.jimmyt1202 said:
Thanks for the help guys! Car is a 2013 mazda cox-5 with almost 60k miles!
I saw an article recently which said several people had reported 60K mile cars with Hertz, and apparently Hertz is including questions in its surveys which suggest they're thinking of charging more for lower mileage cars.thetrash said:
Campo said:
What's it like? I've got a Camaro booked for next week, I'll have it for 8 days and a couple of thousand miles so it'll be nice to know if its any good. I'm not looking to tear up the streets just after a decent ride and as there's only 2 of us decided on the Camaro as I like the looks and it was cheap!
It's pretty good, it's not great round corners but there aren't many of them. The noise of the V8 at full chat never stops me from smiling but they do drive really slow so it's a bit point and squirt. It's comfy enough over distances, it tramlines a bit too, I'd definitely hire another one. It's even given 18mpg.....so the computer says anyways.The 6 odd ltr V8 made the car, on full chat overtaking it sounded incredible and dispatched slower cars easily making overtakes stress free.
My only complaint really was the state of the thing, exterior wise it looked very battle scarred and had a faulty turn light and needed a service (had to cancel the service memo every time it was started). The girl at the checkout barrier noted all the damage down but only when I pushed them to do it. I wonder how many customers they charge for the same damage.
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