We’ve all done it. Ignored that little illuminated outline of an engine on the dashboard, possibly even putting some electrical tape over it. Out of sight out of mind right? Well, only until that check engine light turns your amazing transportation machine into the world’s largest paperweight.
Get to know your check engine light by name.
By this, we mean understanding that the check engine light triggers for specific reasons. Thankfully there’s no one behind a curtain just flipping the switch when they feel like the vehicle is running poorly. Diagnostic tools use standardized error codes, over 5,000 of them, to read your vehicle’s computer output and pinpoint the issue.
These issues can be anything from an unbalance air/fuel mixture to more pressing issues such as multiple engine misfires. Because of this, it is recommended to take your vehicle in immediately for a diagnostics scan. Driving with a check engine light on can lead to much more serious problems than an annoying light.
Don’t panic, but don’t wait either.
Take the time to figure out what your engine needs. A quick stop by our auto repair shop can get you started on giving your car the care it deserves. An ignored check engine light can leave you broken down on the side of the road or sometimes not even let you start the car to get out of the driveway.
That being said, if you’re driving and see the light come in it typically won’t require you pulling over and getting a tow to the nearest shop. If something went that horribly wrong, you would know as soon as it happens. The goal here is to get a diagnosis as quickly as possible. Doing so takes the stress off of wondering what the issue could be since the possibilities are near endless, but once you hear that your gas cap was just cracked, you’ll be much happier.
Driving is a fun and freeing experience, and you need a healthy car to get the most out of it. Don’t let a check engine light take the joy out of your ride, bring it into our auto repair shop today!