Check Engine Light
The Check Engine Light is an important part of your car’s computer system which controls and monitors a vehicle’s performance, regulating such variables as engine speed, fuel mixture, and ignition timing.
- If the light is blinking pull over ASAP, turn off the vehicle and call for a tow truck. If you keep driving you could cause catastrophic damage to the engine.
If the light is steady, but the vehicle is sputtering, stuttering, stalling or having trouble starting, take it to a professional auto technician ASAP for diagnosis and repair.
- If the vehicle is running just fine the problem is not an emergency, but you should schedule an appointment as soon as possible. It could be that the gas cap is loose, there is an exhaust leak, vehicle needs a tune-up, or a sensor needs replacing.
- If you totally ignore the check engine light you could eventually end up damaging expensive components. It also can be a sign that your car is getting poor fuel economy and emitting higher levels of pollutants.