Did you know that there’s a right way to react to the check engine light turning on in your car? Erik’s Automotive wants you to feel confident when you see warning lights on your dashboard, even the check engine light. It doesn’t have to mean that something terrible is immediately about to happen, especially if you take action now.
Don’t Ignore What’s Going On
The check engine light turning on is a situation that can very quickly send you into a spiral of “what if” scenarios. That means that it’s really tempting to pretend it didn’t happen and that you’re not seeing that scary light. The problem is, ignoring the light isn’t really an option. In all reality, the problem is likely a small one and responding quickly can help it to stay a small one.
Take a Moment and Scan Everything
The first thing to really do is to quickly scan the entire dashboard and anything in the car that can give you additional information. If you do see other warning lights or other signs of trouble, that can be your clue as to what’s causing the check engine light to be on at all. It can also help to take a quick peek at the owner’s manual to see what else it can tell you.
Also, Make Sure You Listen to the Engine
How does the engine sound? You might be able to pinpoint specific sounds or changes in how the engine sounds depending on what else is going on. This is other information that you can use to help you to figure out what’s going on. Of course, really terrible noises are probably going to prompt you to turn the car’s engine off completely.
Check a Few Simple Possibilities
There are some really simple reasons the check engine light can turn on. If your transmission is making seriously bad noises or refuses to go into gear at all, that can be a potential cause for the check engine light to be on. If you recently filled up your gas tank, the gas cap might not be fully secured. Again, the owner’s manual can tell you some other simple things to check.
The most important message, though, is that you shouldn’t wait to get help. Erik’s Automotive in San Antonio, TX is here for all of your repair and service needs, including diagnosing what’s causing the check engine light to turn on. Contact us today and we’ll help you to get an accurate answer about what is affecting your car’s engine.