Your check engine light is on, now what?

Your check engine light is on, now what?

By-Andy Cotey

 

There you are, driving down the road, minding your own business and suddenly a yellow light comes on your dash “check engine”, maybe “service engine soon” or just a picture of an engine. Now what do you do? 

 

There are a couple of things to consider first:

 

Did the engine change the way that it is running? If not, you may only have a minor issue. Believe it or not, it could be as simple as a gas cap that is loose or not sealing properly.

If it did change the way it is running, or if the light stays on or blinks, you should call your repair shop and talk with someone They can help you decide what to do. Something in the emission system may be malfunctioning, causing the light to be on. This can damage other components. 

It may require diagnostics to find out why it came on and what is required to repair the problem, or if you should even drive the vehicle. Many times you will be asked to leave the car for testing.

If you have a light come on and want more information, feel free to contact Andy via email at hoauto@msn.com

Andy Cotey is the service manager for Hockett & Olsen Automotive & Tire and has over 24 years in the automotive repair field and another 6 years experience in small engine mechanics.

Ideas for an article? Questions about car repair? Please send them to Andy at hoauto@msn.com