Expensive Car Repair Mistake #2 - Ignoring a Check Engine Light

Ignoring your check engine light or service engine soon light can mean major repairs for your vehicle, possibly even an engine replacement. 

One of the most critical warnings that your vehicle can give you when it is not functioning properly is to illuminate your check engine light or service engine soon light. The main function of a check engine light is to alert the driver to a variety of existing potential problems, even if the vehicle appears to be running normally. At Mastermind Enterprises Auto Repair Shop in Denver, we offer you a FREE computer scan and diagnosis* in our shop.

Don't Just Turn Off Your Check Engine Light - 

Fix the Problem!

The check engine light means that you need to get your vehicle checked out as soon as possible. You don't necessarily have to pull over to the side of the road immediately and call a tow truck. There could be a problem from something as simple as a loose gas cap to a seriously misfiring engine to a faulty catalytic converter.

WARNING!!

Your Check Engine Light May Signal a SERIOUS PROBLEM!

• Failures that can leave you stranded
• System malfunction(s) that can damage other systems
• Up to 40% decrease in gas mileage
• Catastrophic damage that can cost you more later
• Emissions test failure

There are numerous systems that turn on the check engine light including the ignition system, fuel injection system or the emission control system. The light will also let you know if there is a simple problem with your engine that is affecting your gas mileage.

Let Mastermind Enterprises diagnose your Check Engine Light!

Call us today at 303-297-2886 or send us an email. 

Check Engine Lights come in different colors including orange, yellow or amber (depending on the vehicle manufacturer). If your check engine light or service engine soon light is flashing, it is telling you there is a more serious problem like a misfire. A misfire can overheat the catalytic converter that could create a fire hazard if it is malfunctioning.

Common malfunctions that illuminate the Check Engine Light are:

• a loose gas cap
• faulty oxygen sensors
• faulty mass air sensor
• faulty spark plugs or wires
• faulty catalytic converter(s)
• poor gas mileage

When you take your vehicle to a shop for a check engine light diagnosis, make sure they have professional ASE Certified technicians who are trained in OBDII diagnosis and repair. The technician needs to understand and examine the data streams including the idle speed, throttle response, engine temperature, fuel system pressure, manifold vacuum, exhaust emission levels and many other symptoms that point to what is causing the problem when plugging in a diagnostic tool to your vehicle's computer.

Your vehicle's computer can also be scanned by an inexpensive code reader or at a local auto parts store for free, but this will not necessarily tell you the problem your vehicle is having. It is a common misconception that the code given by the vehicle's computer instantly "diagnoses" the vehicle. The code simply gives the technician looking at your vehicle a starting point of where to start looking for problems. If you know the codes your vehicle's computer is producing, it is always helpful to the technician servicing your vehicle.

Turning off your Check Engine Light does not repair the underlying problem and the light will come back on later, possibly leading to larger, more costly repairs later. 

If your "Service Required" light comes on, this is different then the Check Engine Light or Service Engine Soon Light. This simply means your vehicle is due for an oil change or other scheduled maintenance. This light is a friendly reminder that it is time bring your vehicle in before you have bigger problems to worry about. It does not tell you that there is a problem with your vehicle.

For any questions you have regarding your vehicle's Check Engine Light or Service Engine Soon Light, call Mastermind Enterprises today at 303-297-2886. We are happy to help you with your vehicle's needs every mile of the way!

FREE Check Engine Light Diagnosis* at 

Mastermind Enterprises Auto Repair Shop in Denver

* Diagnosis up to 1 hour. Excludes Electrical Diagnosis. With approved repairs in our shop.

Estimate & Appointment Requests

We are celebrating America's birthday weekend with family, but you can still submit an estimate or appointment request for auto repair or service on our website anytime. Of course, you can always call us at 303-297-2886 and leave a voicemail for us, too! Use our 24 Hour Key Drop to drop your vehicle off this weekend. We will respond on Monday when we are back in the shop. Have a great weekend!

Check Engine Light Diagnosis & Repair in Denver

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). 

Contact us via email on our website, too.

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