What to do if the “check engine” light goes on?
It does mean that you should get the car checked out
as soon as possible. If you ignore this warning, you
can damage some expensive components, and get poor
gas mileage.
What this light is trying to tell you?
This light is a part of the On-Board Diagnostic system (OBD II)
The engine systems performance is being controlled and monitored by computer. When the computer finds a problem in
any system, it waits a little for the possibility that the faulty system
will correct itself. If this doesn’t happened, the computer turns on
the “check engine” light. At the same time, the computer stores
a “trouble code” in the memory. This code identifies the system or component that is malfunctioning. Code can be read with the
special scanning tool.
If the “check engine” light turns “on”, it will either blink or remain
solid, depending on the problem. The blinking light indicates a
serious problem that requires immediate attention. Most of the
time it an engine misfire. In this case, the unburned fuel
gets into the exhaust system where it can explode and severely
damage the catalytic converter. Repair will be expensive.
The solid “check engine” light indicates a non-emergency, but the
car or truck should be checked ASAP.
Tip: on late model vehicles, loose gas cap will trigger the “check
engine” light. The first thing you do, try to tight your gas cap first.
After a while, the light will turn off but the trouble code will remain
in memory.
Mr.Naum Levinson was born in Eastern Europe.
He holds a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering, specializing
in automotive design.
He has over 35 years of experience in vehicle research,
development, maintenance, and repair.
On his website http://www.best-auto-repairs.com, he shares
his life experience with readers, and stresses the point
that the best repair is a preventive maintenance system.
His other interests are computers, travel, and maintaining a
healthy lifestyle.
He lives with his family in La Mesa, California
