OMG My Check Engine Light Is On What Should I Do?

by Your Auto Lover Automotive Advice and tips to help car owners. This is a practical guide to help you know what to do when the check engine light comes on in your car's dashboard.

It just came on, you panic and decided to park on the side of the road. It has never happened to you before, and you don't know what to do. What will that little engine that has been activated in the middle of the dashboard mean? The answer is complicated, but don't panic because we explain everything you need to know about the check engine.


Now, some of the primary faults that it is possible to detect when the check engine is activated are:

- Problems in the drive train that can affect the vehicle's emission system.

- Unburned fuel is leaking into the exhaust, where it can damage the catalytic converter.

- An oil dipstick or plug is not installed correctly.

- Keep the tank low on fuel or fill it while the engine is running.

- One of the hoses is punctured or broken.

- In some cases, it also lights up when it is time to change the timing belt or replace the oil in the housing.

- The car needs an urgent internal check.

In addition to those mentioned, there are, of course, other fault messages depending on the system installed in the car and obviously on the make and model of the vehicle. However, some things in common are that the check engine light usually has two shades: A yellow one that is the preventive one and a red one for when it is necessary to stop the car and avoid significant damages.

In any case, now you know what to check in the car when you see this light turn on and anyway take it to the workshop to get a second opinion. Remember also that even if you have fixed the problem, the light will take time to disappear.

What are your options?

Let's see what your options on how to deal with that are. First, briefly how it works. Your car has a computer (pictured) that controls the drive train (engine and transmission). This computer is called the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). It continually works on adjusting engine and transmission performance for better fuel economy and lower emissions.

This computer has a self-test capability (called On-Board Diagnostics or OBD-II). When it detects a fault in one of the systems or sensors, it turns on the Check Engine light on its dashboard. It also stores all the fault codes in its memory.

To diagnose the problem, your mechanic will need to attach a scan tool to your vehicle and retrieve the code from the computer.

What to check first?

You will probably have to check your owner's manual. The most common reason if usually that the gas cap is not tight. In other words, your gas cap is not closed correctly. It usually occurs shortly after a fill at a gas station. If you find that the fuel cap was not tight, please close it properly if you have an OBDII scanner reset your dashboard settings.

If the light comes on after your car has been repaired, then take it to the repair shop and ask them to recheck it. Also, check under the hood to see if you have enough oil in the engine (check oil level). See if the car battery terminals are tight or if something seems to be loose under the hood. There should be instructions on checking the oil levels on your car's owner's manual.

For more useful automotive information visit youramazingcar.com

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Created on May 20th 2020 10:06. Viewed 365 times.

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