You’re driving along in your car or truck and suddenly a yellow light illuminates on your dash telling you to check or service your engine. If you’re like most car owners, you have little idea about what that light is trying to tell you or exactly how you should react. While it doesn’t mean you have to immediately pull your vehicle over to the side of the road and call a tow truck, it does indicate a problem that needs to be checked as soon as possible. If you ignore the warning, you could end up damaging expensive components.
What the Light Means
Call it the most misunderstood indicator on your dashboard, the “check engine” light can mean many different things, from a loose gas cap to a seriously misfiring engine. The “check engine” light is part of your vehicle’s onboard diagnostics (OBD) system that monitors vehicle performance, regulates engine speed (RPM), the fuel mixture, and ignition timing. In some cars, the computer also tells the automatic transmission when to shift.
When the OBD finds a problem in the electronic-control system it can’t correct, the computer turns on a yellow warning indicator that’s labeled “check engine,” “service engine soon” or “check powertrain.” Or the light may be nothing more than a picture of an engine, known as the International Check Engine Symbol, perhaps with the word “Check.” In addition to turning on the light, the computer stores a “trouble code” in its memory that identifies the source of the problem, such as a malfunctioning sensor or a misfiring engine. The code can be read with an electronic scan tool or a diagnostic computer, standard equipment in auto repair shops.
What to Do
If your “check engine” light illuminates it will either blink or remain constant, depending on the problem. Either way, you should have the vehicle checked. At Country Road Automotive, we have the scan tools that can read the code and the Master Technicians that can diagnose and correct the problem.
Is your “Check Engine” or “Service Engine Soon” light illuminated? Schedule an appointment with us to find out why by clicking here.