# So called Covid Cars, Do they Exist? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** encore, buick\ **Created:** [September 29, 2024, 10:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/so-called-covid-cars-do-they-exist/197417 "2024-09-29T10:22:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rannesteele\_191446](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f4b2a3/32.png) [@rannesteele\_191446](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rannesteele_191446)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 10:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/so-called-covid-cars-do-they-exist/197417/1 "2024-09-29T10:22:30Z")
My 22 Encore GX had less than 22,000 miles on 7/3/24 when the check engine light went on due to turbo failure. Dealer had it about 2 weeks.to replace. I had it back about 3 weeks when the check engine light came on again. Now they say it is the Nox sensor, but part is back ordered. They have had my car since August 6, no estimate when they will get the part in. Are these problems related, or is it true about covid cars being problems? Car has been properly maintained, no problems until this. Thank you ---
**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 11:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/so-called-covid-cars-do-they-exist/197417/2 "2024-09-29T11:20:58Z")
I thought Nox sensors were only used on diesel engines. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 1:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/so-called-covid-cars-do-they-exist/197417/3 "2024-09-29T13:21:36Z")
> [@rannesteele\_191446](#): > > Are these problems related, or is it true about covid cars being problems It IS true that parts shortages still plague car owners. Those shortages started during Covid and still haunt us today so yes, I think that was a problem when your car was built and is part of the parts shortage you face today. Also, the 1.4 liter turbo 4 in your Encore is not the best engine GM has produced by any measure. And I think you mean “knock” sensor, not “Nox” sensor. ---
**Author:** ![rannesteele\_191446](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f4b2a3/32.png) [@rannesteele\_191446](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rannesteele_191446)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 5:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/so-called-covid-cars-do-they-exist/197417/4 "2024-09-29T17:00:45Z")
Thank you for your answer, I appreciate it ---
**Author:** ![rannesteele\_191446](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f4b2a3/32.png) [@rannesteele\_191446](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rannesteele_191446)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 5:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/so-called-covid-cars-do-they-exist/197417/5 "2024-09-29T17:01:18Z")
Thank you for your answer ---
**Author:** ![rannesteele\_191446](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f4b2a3/32.png) [@rannesteele\_191446](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rannesteele_191446)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 5:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/so-called-covid-cars-do-they-exist/197417/6 "2024-09-29T17:02:50Z")
Thank you for your answer and comment, I appreciate it. Yes, I could be wrong about that, but you guys got me researching and yes, gas cars do have Nox sensors. Maybe it’s a California thing? I really appreciate your answers, got me busy doing research. ---
**Author:** ![rannesteele\_191446](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f4b2a3/32.png) [@rannesteele\_191446](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rannesteele_191446)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 5:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/so-called-covid-cars-do-they-exist/197417/7 "2024-09-29T17:46:19Z")
Thank you for your thought about Nox only being on diesel. You got me researching, thinking maybe I was not understanding what they told me. Yes, there are Nox sensors on gas engines. Maybe on newer cars? Or maybe it’s a California thing? ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 5:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/so-called-covid-cars-do-they-exist/197417/8 "2024-09-29T17:53:11Z")
It is not needed to reply to each post. Your posts are seen by everyone. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 6:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/so-called-covid-cars-do-they-exist/197417/9 "2024-09-29T18:53:56Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > It IS true that parts shortages still plague car owners. Those shortages started during Covid and still haunt us today If the Longshoremen’s strike lasts more than 2 weeks, it will begin to lead to shortages of car parts and some food items, and it could eventually bring us back to a shortage of some cars. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 10:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/so-called-covid-cars-do-they-exist/197417/10 "2024-09-29T22:13:06Z")
> [@VDCdriver](#): > > Longshoremen’s strike Buy your chocolate now before all the cacao is left on the docks in South America. BTW, no Swiss chocolate for you either. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2024, 9:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/so-called-covid-cars-do-they-exist/197417/11 "2024-09-30T21:49:22Z")
I wonder if the coffee supply will be affected? Chocolate I can take or leave, but life w/no coffee? ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2024, 12:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/so-called-covid-cars-do-they-exist/197417/12 "2024-10-01T00:19:27Z")
Of course coffee will be affected. Go buy a few pounds. No coffee is grown in the Continental US. Comparatively little is grown in Central America and I doubt that any of that supply is trucked to us. The rest is grown in Africa, Asia and South America. Edit: only East Coast and Gulf Coast ports are shut down. @George_San_Jose1 may well get coffee via West Coast deliveries and if the ILA strike goes on long enough your bean deliveries might be affected. Coffee imported through Pacific ports will undoubtedly be shipped elsewhere, increasing the cost in Cali. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2024, 12:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/so-called-covid-cars-do-they-exist/197417/13 "2024-10-01T00:40:12Z")
So the parts shortages due to Covid are well known. The other factor is when a vehicle has a systemic design problem or the parts are marginal and fail early. Then they get a rash of demand they didn’t anticipate. These days, manufacturers operate on a shoestring budget and don’t have much excess inventory built into the supply stream. When something like the above happens, they have to try to ramp up the suppliers and everything has “mass”. It takes some time for the entire supply chain to react to sudden increase in demand. Meanwhile, you’re sitting there twiddling your thumbs waiting… ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2024, 3:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/so-called-covid-cars-do-they-exist/197417/14 "2024-10-01T15:02:45Z")
Most of supply problems due to covid have been resolved. It’s now just clearing all the backorders. The war in Ukraine is also causing supply problems. ---
**Author:** ![woofcat15\_187418](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@woofcat15\_187418](https://community.cartalk.com/u/woofcat15_187418)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2024, 12:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/so-called-covid-cars-do-they-exist/197417/15 "2024-10-04T00:48:43Z")
Looks like the strike is settled. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2024, 11:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/so-called-covid-cars-do-they-exist/197417/16 "2024-10-04T11:51:43Z")
The ILA strike is not settled, it is postponed until mid-January. The pay raise aspect was successfully negotiated but the automation issue is still in the works. After the full negotiations are done the members will vote on it. BTW, I am responsible for the extension. A few days ago I bought extra coffee to get through a couple months of a strike. A day after I bought the coffee, the strike was delayed. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2024, 12:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/so-called-covid-cars-do-they-exist/197417/17 "2024-10-04T12:24:16Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > A few days ago I bought extra coffee to get through a couple months of a strike. That actually made sense, as would stocking-up on tea, wine, olive oil, and other products that are imported. What mystifies me is the phenomenon–reported widely by the news media–of people doing panic buying of toilet paper. Apparently, a segment of the population thinks that toilet paper is imported. Yes, one might _occasionally_ see some TP that was made in Canada, but more than 95% of it is made right here in the good old USA. ---
**Author:** ![woofcat15\_187418](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@woofcat15\_187418](https://community.cartalk.com/u/woofcat15_187418)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2024, 1:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/so-called-covid-cars-do-they-exist/197417/18 "2024-10-04T13:18:29Z")
Right you are. Automation is a big issue. Tuas port in Singapore is interesting. Supposedly fully automated. Are there any automated ports in the U.S.A? ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2024, 3:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/so-called-covid-cars-do-they-exist/197417/19 "2024-10-04T15:21:36Z")
> [@woofcat15\_187418](#): > > Right you are. Automation is a big issue This issue could hurt them in the long run. This is what happened to the steel industry. The unions stopped the companies from automating/upgrading for years. When they started losing business to foreign companies that could do it cheaper and then had massive layoffs…the union BEGGED the companies to automate to save what few jobs they had left. By then it was too late. Many companies went out of business and tens of thousands of union workers layed off. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2024, 3:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/so-called-covid-cars-do-they-exist/197417/20 "2024-10-04T15:45:24Z")
In my experience, we welcomed automation. But when a machine eliminates two FTEs, the remaining employees may be working harder! Then there are managers that are impressed by flashing lights and a weeklong “training” for the managers that will never operate the instrument. Well this thread has gone sideways! [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/so-called-covid-cars-do-they-exist/197417.md?page=2)