You\u2019re almost certainly aware of the engine check light on your car. It\u2019s the orange engine shaped light which, when lit, sparks fear in the hearts of many drivers.<\/p>\n

The check engine light was originally a signal of the death of the vehicle. The idea was to pull over quick and panic. But, with the massive increase in electronics in vehicles this is no longer the case. A check engine light which stays on indicates a minor fault<\/a> and is not something you need to react to immediately.<\/p>\n

A flashing engine check light indicates a severe fault, this is when you should get your vehicle looked at as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

It is probably tempting to try and diagnose it yourself; you\u2019ll need a scanning tool as the engine check light will store a fault code in your onboard computer. However, it is advisable to visit a professional in car repair services<\/a>. Many of the cheaper scanners you can buy will not read all the codes, a professional will have the right equipment to diagnose and quickly treat the issue.<\/p>\n

It is worth noting there are several very simple causes<\/a> of a check engine light coming on, but you\u2019ll need to get a professional to read the codes before you can fix it yourself.<\/p>\n

Why The Engine Check Light Comes On<\/strong><\/p>\n

All modern cars have computers fitted to them. They monitor the state of the engine through an array of sensors and then control the running of the engine, specifically fuel injection speed and the burn mix.<\/p>\n

When one of these elements goes out of line the computer will attempt to adjust the others to fix the issue. If it can\u2019t the engine check light will come on. The code for the fault is stored and you\u2019re in need of a fault code reader!<\/p>\n

Action You Need To Take<\/strong><\/p>\n

The important thing to remember is that your vehicle is very sophisticated. If it detects a severe problem it will usually put your vehicle into \u2018limp home\u2019 mode. This is when the car has limited power. You should head straight home or to your local garage for fault diagnosis.<\/p>\n

When the light is steady and there is no apparent issue with the engine and drivability of the vehicle then you should be safe to continue your journey. However, it is still important to have your vehicle looked at as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

Important Note<\/strong><\/p>\n

If your light is steady, indicating a minor fault, then you might decide to continue driving for days or even weeks. After all, the vehicle might seem no different.<\/p>\n

However, doing this could result in a much bigger bill. A steady engine check light could simply indicate a failed oxygen sensor. If you don\u2019t replace it then the fuel will not be burnt completely. Your miles per gallon will reduce and there will be an increase in carbon build up inside your engine.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately this can lead to carbon in your catalytic convertor which will dramatically reduce its life, leaving you with an expensive repair bill!<\/p>\n

In short, get your vehicle checked and fixed as soon as possible but don\u2019t panic when the light comes on, it doesn\u2019t have to cost the earth.<\/p>\n

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You\u2019re almost certainly aware of the engine check light on your car. It\u2019s the orange engine shaped light which, when lit, sparks fear in the hearts of many drivers. The check engine light was originally a signal of the death… Continue Reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1554,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n