The Light Nobody Wants to See (Check Engine Light)
August 27, 2023
You've probably had your Check Engine Light go on. Then it goes off and you figure, hey, whatever the problem was, it's gone now and I don't have to worry about it. Well, the problem may have gone away and it may not have.
Your vehicle likely has one of these warning lights on the instrument panel: an amber light that looks like an engine or reads "Check Engine" or "Service Vehicle Soon." If that light comes on and stays on, it usually means there's something amiss but not urgently in need of service. (Now if it's blinking, that's another story that we'll deal with in a minute.)
Sometimes when it comes on and stays steadily lit, the problem will go away and the light will go out. Sometimes it will stay on until you get the problem fixed. Either way, the engine's computer will store a code that can provide clues to what's not working—or wasn't working—the way it's supposed to.
If you are just dying to know what that code is, you can buy a little code reader or take your vehicle to an auto parts store and they'll read it. Problem is, the code offers so many options that unless you are a trained technician, you probably won't have a clue what those codes mean.
So if you want to be sure, take it to your vehicle repair facility and have them check it. Technicians are trained to decipher the codes and, using their experience and other diagnostic equipment, can get to the root of the problem and fix it.
As we mentioned before, if that Check Engine light comes on and is blinking, it means a more serious engine malfunction that can damage expensive components such as the catalytic converter and even the engine itself. It's important to have that checked by a professional as soon as possible.
Mr. Lube
903 NW Second St
Bentonville, Arkansas 72712
479-271-2323
https://www.mrlubebentonville.msprotemp.com/
More articles from Mr. Lube & Wash

Got it Covered! (Timing Cover Maintenance)
March 2, 2025
You may have heard at one time or another about something called a timing belt or timing chain in your engine. And you may know that if they fail well, let's just say that there can be some major engine damage. So obviously, we want our timing belts and chains to be in tip-top shape. One part t... More

Giving CV Joints the Boot! (CV Joint and Boot Replacement)
February 23, 2025
Ever wonder how your vehicles transmission is connected to your wheels? After all, when you hit a pothole or some other uneven part of a roads surface, there has to be something that can maintain the connection between the transmission and the wheel yet keep everything moving at the same speed. ... More

Braking Good (Brake Drum Replacement)
February 16, 2025
Maybe your vehicle feels like Breaking Bad. In other words, when you brake, things are bad. You may find it takes you a longer distance to stop, you feel a vibration, or its pulsating when you depress the brake pedal, or perhaps your vehicle pulls to one side. Those can be symptoms of failing b... More