You depend on your vehicle as a part of daily life. It can be worrisome when things start to go wrong with it. Fortunately, your car has the ability to notify you when something isn’t right with some of its main systems. This can help prevent catastrophic damage before you are left stranded. It can also help pinpoint the area to investigate when you take it for automotive diagnostics Marysville WA.
What Is the Check Engine Light?
The check engine light is an international indicator that something is amiss with your car. It is an illuminated icon that displays in red or orange on your dashboard instrument cluster. Its purpose is to alert you that there is a problem, and driving for an extended period of time may result in further damage and costlier repairs. Does it mean your engine is going to blow up in a few miles? No, not necessarily. It is tied to a host of electrical components and sensors in your car – not just the engine itself. Not all problems require you to pull off the side of the road immediately, but it should be checked out soon. Here are just a few of the reasons you may see the check engine light appear:
- Problem with the emission control system
- Gas gap isn’t on tight
- Catalytic converter has malfunctioned
- Mass Airflow Sensor (MAF) isn’t working properly
How Do You Know the Problem?
The check engine light is a visual warning for drivers but it doesn’t always indicate what the exact problem is. So how do you find out? For all modern vehicles, there is a code stored in the system when the light comes on. There can be thousands of these codes. Automotive service centers have what is called an OBD-II scanner that plugs into the vehicle and can read that code. While this can narrow down the trouble area, the issue may still not be obvious. This is why a professional diagnostic service can save hours of troubleshooting on your own.
