What You Should Do When Your Check Engine Light Goes On
Published September 7th, 2017
One of the more dreaded events for any car owner is to see the check engine light illuminated, and rightly so. If you ignore the check engine light, you might run into far more trouble in the future than if you were to just deal with it as soon as possible. If you’re on a trip and see that your check engine light is on, there are some warning signs you should look out for to ensure no serious damage takes place:
Stable or blinking light
For most car models, a check engine light that is on, but stays lit means that a problem might be present, but under current circumstances, it is not as serious. If the check engine light is blinking, the problem might be much more serious, and you should pull over if possible, or get to an automotive repair centre as soon as possible.
Tighten your fuel cap
The fuel cap coming loose is the least serious problem that might be causing your check engine to come on. Check to see if the cap is loose, and make sure to tighten it, if it is. Keep in mind that it may take more than one trip for the light to go off, but be sure to keep an eye on it, and seek professional help if it stays on.
Loss of power
If the light is on, and you’ve started to experience sudden performance issues like a loss of power and reduced speed capabilities, be sure to slow down immediately, and reduce the work your engine is doing. For example, if you’re towing a car, you should stop immediately.
Let a professional take a look
If your check engine light stays on, it’s a good idea to take it to an automotive repair professional, who use diagnostic tools that identify a code that corresponds to a specific engine problem or issue that might be affecting your engine.
If done correctly, the diagnosis will give your technician a clear idea of what and where the problem might be, and what has to be done to fix it. This could end up saving you time and money, as a relatively moderate problem won’t become a serious one.
If your check engine light is on and you would like a professional to service your car, get in touch with the team of expert mechanics at ABS.
Related Tag: Mechanics South Melbourne