The warning lights of a vehicle are meant to flash on the dashboard, whenever there is an issue with any of its mechanisms, help the car owners in traveling safely and without entering into bigger problems. There are many of these indicative lights that are present on the dashboard to convey messages about different mechanisms. The “check engine” light, as the name suggests is indicative of anything going wrong with the engine and its related mechanisms. So, when you see the “check engine” light appearing on the dashboard, and staying on for long, it is actually helping you resolve the issues before they become huge, assured a senior mechanic at the department of Gilroy check engine light.
He further explained to us that it is the onboard diagnostics system (or OBD II) that are now an integral part of the modern vehicles that performs the duty of detecting anything unusual in the engine and its related parts. The OBD system is programmed purposefully to get into work automatically and turn on all the indicative lights, among which the “check engine” light is a crucial one. He also explained to us in detail, how the “check engine” light helps in detecting all the issues related to the engine, like the engine and transmission, exhaust and ignition systems, through its distinctive behavior.
Decoding the Indication
The “check engine” light that usually appears either in yellow or orange color is supposed to come up once, when you start the car engine and disappear as soon as your car starts moving. It appears along with all other indicative lights and is not supposed to stay on, all through the drive unless, something is wrong.
It is a known fact that anyone will get unnerved seeing the “check engine” light coming up and staying on. That is why the car manufacturers have programmed the “check engine” light in such a way, that you can decipher how serious the issue is, by observing its behavior. The “check engine” light will turn on as soon as it finds something wrong in the engine and its related compartments. But it will start flickering, if the issue is really serious and needs a costly repair.
So, if the light simply stays on, you can check out the gas cap, if it has gone loose or has cracked up. You can check out the spark plug to know if it is fused. The electrical wiring that connects the engine with the ignition system can also be at fault, if the “check engine” light is appearing and staying on, says the same mechanic. But if the light starts flickering or blinking, it is indicative of a serious issue like a damage in the engine carburetor, the ignition system, the catalytic convertor and the like. In such case you must take immediate action and take your car to an authorized auto repair shop, to perform a thorough diagnosis of the entire system, suggested the departmental head of the CEL testing & diagnosis near Gilroy.