Owning a vehicle you will want to make sure it is safe and reliable to drive. This should include bringing the vehicle in for regular maintenance inspections. You may notice at some point that the check engine light illuminates on the dashboard. This is a fairly common occurrence and more often than not, it is not a serious issue. This light is part of a built in computerized system, so it should not go ignored. In most cases, you can finish your normal drive and then investigate the issue when you reach you arrive home. It is important to not confuse the check engine soon light with the service engine light because they have different meanings than the check engine light. Maintenance is required when the service engine soon light illuminates at a given mileage to let you know that a vehicle service is needed.
To have a better understanding of what may have caused the light to come on, it is significant to know what year your vehicle was built. If your vehicle was built before 1996 and the check engine light comes on, it might mean that there was a failure somewhere in the electronic engine control system. If there are any electronic sensors not functioning properly, you are going to see the check engine light illuminate. Starting in 1996, the check engine light began to monitor vehicles’ emissions. The check engine light is now required to monitor a number of different emissions factors, including the exhaust that comes out of the engine. It can even monitor the exhaust again as it is exiting the catalytic converter. These newer systems are so precise that the check engine light may come on if the gas cap is not tight enough, or if there is a leak anywhere in the fuel system.
If the check engine light comes on, there are two very serious visible warnings to look for. Notice if the light is red or yellow, and if it is blinking or staying solid. A red check engine light means you should not be driving the vehicle at all. If the light is blinking, it could indicate a more serious problem. The main reason the light comes on like this is if there was a malfunction in the vehicle’s emission control system. Also, check the gas cap. Make certain it is tight and try turning the vehicle off and back on again. This may help reset the light. In some cases, it may even take a couple of short rides to get the light to reset. If the light continues to stay on, schedule an appointment with us so we can inspect the vehicle for you.