The check engine light. It’s an annoyance for so many drivers. But it’s there for a reason. And while some of the reasons are minor, and the light may indicate a problem that is easily diagnosed and fixed, other times it means there is potentially a problem that inaction will only make worse. And the reason for the annoyance is that a check engine light could just as likely be a loose gas cap as a faulty or failing ignition coil.
What is that Check Engine Light anyway?
The check engine light was put into place by your car manufacturer as a warning to a problem discovered by the vehicle’s computer. The vehicle’s engine computer registers everything that happens beneath your vehicle’s hood, and when there is a problem, of sorts, in the engine, then the light turns on. The light could be in any color, including red and orange, and when it comes on and stays on that means that the computer discovered a potential problem; but, when the light turns on and continues to flash off and on repeatedly that means that there is a potentially devastating problem within the engine, especially an engine misfire that can lead to an overheat of the catalytic converter.
When the Light Comes On…Do Something!
You can do any number of things when the check engine comes on. First, you should think to call and schedule an appointment with Willard’s Garage to have everything checked out by trusted professionals. If the problem is big and something that needs to be immediately addressed then the vehicle will already be in experienced hands. Second, you could purchase a tool that connects to the vehicle’s computer to read the diagnostic code still registered in the vehicle’s computer. This, however, should only be considered to diagnose the simple problems such as a loose gas cap. The number one thing you don’t want to do is ignore the problem. If the problem is something that is potentially devastating, then it’s not going away, and inaction will only cause the problem to grow and possibly spread to other appliances and engine components.
