THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT –
WHAT IT MEANS AND WHAT TO DO
Presented by Mike McArno
©2010
OBDII Diagnostic Scanners.com
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT – WHAT IT MEANS - OBDIIDIAGNOSTICSCANNERS.COM
The "check engine" or "service engine soon" light
has come on.
Don't panic.
It does not mean the engine is about to fall apart
or explode.
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT – WHAT IT MEANS - OBDIIDIAGNOSTICSCANNERS.COM
Many drivers just ignore it. Sometimes that works
and the light turns off.
Most other times though, it stays.
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT – WHAT IT MEANS - OBDIIDIAGNOSTICSCANNERS.COM
Your vehicle has developed an emissions-related
problem.
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT – WHAT IT MEANS - OBDIIDIAGNOSTICSCANNERS.COM
Auto manufacturers are required to build their
vehicles with controlled emissions standards.
They put warning lights in your vehicle to notify
you when emissions exceed those standards.
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT – WHAT IT MEANS - OBDIIDIAGNOSTICSCANNERS.COM
Your car's computer monitors the catalytic
converter and oxygen sensors.
If it detects a problem, the computer designates a
trouble code and turns on the Malfunction
Indicator Lamp (MIL) -
- that's your "check engine" or "service engine
soon" light.
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT – WHAT IT MEANS - OBDIIDIAGNOSTICSCANNERS.COM
Your vehicle cannot pass an emissions
inspection if the MIL is on.
Or if there are trouble codes in your car's
computer - even if the MIL is turned off.
Neither can you sell your vehicle if either of these
is true.
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT – WHAT IT MEANS - OBDIIDIAGNOSTICSCANNERS.COM
An authorized dealer or an ASE-certified
technician can connect a diagnostic tool to your
car's computer to identify the trouble, fix the
problem, turn off the MIL and reset the codes.
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT – WHAT IT MEANS - OBDIIDIAGNOSTICSCANNERS.COM
This certainly takes care of the problem, but it
can be expensive.
Just for them to hook up the diagnostic scanner
will cost you, even if the problem was only a loose
gas