code for check engine light that cost $110 and went off by itself

First of all, thank you to Jim, Dave, and Patrick Wong for your replies.

So far, so good the check engine light has remained off.

Here is what the dealership wrote up verbatim on Monday, June 6th:

Customer states the check engine light is on. Check and advise. States light came on Friday, states the coolant invertor was boiling.

Found code P1436 HCAC -System Variable Valve Open Malfunction

Repair requires replacement front exhaust pipe:

Exhaust pipe $1192.11
Gasket $56.89 & $24.62
Bolts $2.71 each, needs 2
$5.90 each, needs 2
Springs $6.36 each, needs 2
$6.30 each, needs 2
Total cost to service $1646.16
Less diagnosis on return $1536.16
Parts would have to be ordered
T1.0 advised front exhaust pipe


Now, as I mentioned above, thankfully there have been no further problems. I have no idea why when the check engine light went off that the coolant was boiling since the car was not overheating. It has not happened since.

The only other thing I smell from time to time is antifreeze after starting the car (lasts for less than five minutes) and sometimes when I'm driving there's the nasty smell of the catalytic converter.

Still, the car drives fine, no gas mileage problems, there are NO fluid leaks, so I don't know.

They also performed a multipoint inspection of the exterior, interior, under the hood, under the vehicle, the fluids, the tires, and the brakes. Everything checked out okay. In fact the only thing they checked off that may require future attention is the tires tread depth? Not sure if it's one tire or all.
LF 7/32, RF4/32, LR5/32, RR4/32

I have no idea what the tread depth should be. One of the techs told me awhile back that the battery is real hard on the tires and that it's nothing uncommon to go through tires????

Is anyone else having problems with having to replace tires? No, I'm not speed racer and no I don't round corners on two wheels!

Thanks again everyone,
Karen

 

Hi Patrick,
Sorry for the delayed reply.
No, it's not damp on the passenger side where you said to check.

As for the smell, you mentioned the possibility it's the gas. All I know is whenever I do smell it, it smells like rotten eggs; typical catalytic converter smell.

Thanks for the info about the tire thread, what tires should be purchased and PSI.
Karen