 Check Engine Light: Oh No! What Should I Do?
Posted by carsandtrucks on Monday, October 22 @ 16:00:34 PDT
You are traveling late at night when the amber "check engine" light suddenly comes on.
What do you do? Find the nearest motel and look for a repair shop in the morning or keep
heading for your destination? It depends on what your vehicle is telling you. All modern
vehicles are equipped with on board computors. These computers manage the engine and
transmisson for proper performance and ensure low emissons are omitting from the
tailpipe. The computer is constantly monitoring sensors that measure engine temperature,
vehicle speed, exhaust emissons,fuel vapors and much more. If during the monitoring a
sensor input comes up missing or out of specifacation the check engine light will come
on. In most cases if the drivetrain (engine or transmisson) performance has not changed
it is safe to continue driving. If there is a noticable change in performance or if the
light is blinking a more immediate response is necessary. A repair shop will connect a
diagnostic scan tool to a data communication link under the dash board. This tool will
provide the repair technician with a fault code. The fault code will point the repair
technician in the
right direction to perform an accurate diagnosis and repair. The fault
code alone does not determine the part that failed, only what part of the system the
trouble lies in. Be careful of the "Free Check Engine Light Scan Service" All to often
the vehicle is scanned, the code retrieved, and a part recommended that is not the cause
of the problem. A thorough pinpoint test of the circuit of sensors, connectors, etc. that
are associated with the code, required for an accurate diagnosis. As technology has
evolved in other parts of our lives so has it in the automobile. Along with that the more
savvy repair technicians have a good handle on how to diagnose these computer related
problems. Make sure you chose someone that understands how the system works when looking
for a repair shop to correct a check engine light problem.
The bottom line is if the the light is on there is a problem with your vehicle. You
should make arrangements to get it checked as soon as possible, but if it is running ok
you can safely wait until you arrive at your destination.
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