Ah yes, the mysterious check engine light. One day you're driving down the road, minding your own business, when suddenly that little orange light pops up on your dashboard. You immediately start wondering how much this is going to cost you. Then, just as you're getting ready to call your mechanic, the light goes out!
Problem solved, right?
Well… not so fast.
First, let's clear something up. Your check engine light isn't just a friendly reminder that your engine is still under the hood. It's your vehicle's computer telling you that something isn't working quite the way it should.
Your vehicle has dozens of sensors and computers constantly monitoring everything from your engine's performance to your emissions system. When one of the computers detects a problem, it may turn on the check engine light. But here's where things get interesting.
Just because the light goes out doesn't mean the problem went away.
Many problems are intermittent, meaning they only happen under certain conditions. Maybe your engine misfires when it's cold, a sensor acts up when it's raining, or your fuel system has an issue only when you're accelerating. When the problem stops occurring, your vehicle's computer may eventually turn the light back off.
Think of it like that strange noise your car makes until you pull into the mechanic's parking lot. Suddenly, it runs like a brand-new Cadillac. Trust me, we mechanics are very familiar with this phenomenon!
The good news is that even after the light goes out, your vehicle's computer will often store a trouble code that can help us figure out what happened. That's why it's worth having it checked, even if everything seems to be running fine.
Now, I can already hear someone saying, "But if the light went out and my car runs fine, why should I spend money having it looked at?"
Fair question!
Sometimes the problem is relatively minor, like a loose gas cap or a sensor beginning to fail. Other times, it could be an early warning of something more serious. A small engine misfire, for example, might not seem like a big deal, but ignoring it could eventually damage your catalytic converter. And believe me, replacing one of those isn't nearly as much fun as spending that money on a vacation!
Here's one important thing to remember: There's a big difference between a check engine light that's on steadily and one that's flashing.
A steady light generally means you should schedule an appointment to have the problem diagnosed soon. But a flashing check engine light often indicates a serious misfire that could quickly damage your catalytic converter. If that happens, safely pull over, shut the engine off, and arrange for assistance rather than continuing to drive.
At Solomon's Garage, we always recommend finding out why the light came on rather than just clearing the code and hoping for the best. Reading a trouble code is a starting point, not a diagnosis. Otherwise, you're just guessing and potentially replacing perfectly good parts.
And here's a little insider information: We actually prefer when customers bring their vehicles in while the light is still on and the problem is happening. Intermittent problems can be some of the toughest to track down. It's a little like trying to catch a mouse that's already left the building!
The bottom line? If your check engine light comes on and then goes off, don't panic, but don't ignore it either. Your vehicle was trying to tell you something, and it's worth listening.
After all, ignoring a warning light because it went away is a little like ignoring a toothache because it stopped hurting. You might get lucky… or you might end up with a much bigger bill later!
Until next time, keep the shining side up and the rubber side down!
Sincerely, Katie Neer of Solomon's Garage, located at 122 S. Detroit St., West Liberty.
Have a question for the mechanic? Send it our way. You might see it answered in next week’s “Ask the Mechanic!” Call Dave and Katie at (937) 887-0029 for questions or to schedule an appointment for your vehicle. Visit https://www.solomonsgarage.com/ for more information.
