How to Respond When Your Check Engine Light Comes On

Posted May 24, 2022

According to Electrek, there are about 240 million cars on the road. About 80% of these cars are in the maintenance/repair phase. This means there is a lot of work to be done. If you have been having problems with your car, one of the things that can bring about a lot of confusion is the yellow light on your dash. The check engine light essentially tells you to check or service your engine. If you are like most owners, you won’t know what to do once this light comes on. Here’s how you can respond.

Turn Your Car Off and Restart It

This should be your first step if the check engine light comes on. You must do this at least three times to reset your vehicle’s trouble codes. This is worth trying before you start thinking about more complicated solutions. If you do this and the light doesn’t go away, then you can explore the problem further.

Check Your Car’s Gas Cap

Sometimes, these issues can be quite simple to resolve. And, yes, something as simple as tightening the gas cap can make the check engine light go away. However, this won’t be an instant solution. You have to give it time. After you tighten the gas cap, you may have to go for several trips before the light goes away.

Perform a Diagnostic Test

A lot of newer vehicles come with a remote diagnostics system. This system can come in quite handy when it comes to investigating car problems. It will report trouble codes, and it can also schedule a service appointment accordingly. This system might tell you why the check engine light has come on, so you know the type of problem you are dealing with.

Lower Your Speed

As soon as the check engine light comes on, you must reduce the speed of your vehicle. This will reduce the strain on the engine, and sometimes it helps. This should be your first response if the check engine light is red or if it’s blinking. These two mean that the issue is serious and needs urgent attention. Apart from reducing speed, you must also lower the load to reduce the strain on the engine. If you are towing something, it might be a good idea to disengage at this point.

These are some of the things you can do when the check engine light comes on. It’s important to act as soon as possible so you can resolve this issue quickly. Get in touch with us if you need help figuring out why your check engine light is on.

Categories: Automotive News

Tags: