Does your check engine light or service engine soon light stay on while you are driving? When you start your vehicle, your check engine light or service engine soon light should come on for a moment and shut off. If your check engine light stays on or comes on sometimes, like most car owners, you probably have little idea what the light is trying to tell you or what you should do. It is the most misunderstood signal on your vehicle and can mean many different things.
Pay attention to your check engine light - it's telling you there is a problem with your vehicle. It's not going to go away on it's own.
What the Light Means
Although your vehicle may seem to run fine, it is important to have the issue addressed right away to prevent long-term problems or damage to your vehicle. There are many sensors and computerized components that manage your vehicle's engine performance and emissions. When one of the components fail or the computer finds a problem in the electronic-control system that it can't correct, the "check engine" or "service engine soon" or "check powertrain" light is illuminated. The light could also just be a picture of an engine, possibly with the word "check".
The light could be telling you something as simple as you have a loose gas cap to an engine with serious problems. It can also prevent you from passing an emissions test, even if the light is not on when your car takes the test. The good news is that the problem typically can be identified by a stored code in your car's computer.
The light doesn't mean you have to pull your vehicle over to the side of the road and call a tow truck. It does mean you should get your vehicle checked out as soon as possible to determine the issue. Ignore the light and you risk causing major damage to expensive parts of your vehicle. The light can also tell you your is emitting high levels of pollutants or getting poor fuel economy. In most cases, if there is a problem, the computer will wait to see if it corrects itself before turning on the check engine light.
What to do
Read your owner's manual to learn the function of the check engine light and every other warning indicator and gauge on your vehicle's dashboard. Generally, you can do this by turning your key to the key-on/engine-off position. Replace any bulbs that are no longer working. If the check engine light comes on, it will either blink or stay on. Either way, you should have it checked out by a mechanic, but a blinking light means you should have your vehicle looked at immediately. In late-model cars, the blinking light typically points to an engine misfire so severe that unburned fuel is being dumped into the exhaust system, where it can quickly destroy the catalytic converter, requiring an expensive auto repair. If this happens to your vehicle, reduce power, and have it looked as soon as possible. If the light is on steady, it is not as urgent, but your vehicle should still be checked out as soon as possible. Automotive computers frequently try to compensate when there is a problem with a vehicle. You may not notice any difference or decline in your vehicle's performance, even though your fuel mileage is suffering and your vehicle is emitting pollutants.
For a quality diagnosis for your check engine light or service engine soon light, call the auto repair professionals in Denver at Mastermind Enterprises AutoCare Center. We are conveniently located off I-25 & 58th Ave at 5770 Clarkson St, Denver, CO 80216. You can call us at 303-297-AUTO (2886).
No comments:
Post a Comment