You may be wondering why your Check Engine Light is on. Is it a major problem or something minor? If you're like most car owners, you have little idea about what that light is trying to tell you or exactly how you should react. Call it the most misunderstood indicator on your dashboard, the "check engine" light can mean many different things, from a loose gas cap to a seriously misfiring engine. When you see this light, it doesn't necessarily mean you need to pull over immediately and call a tow truck, it's more so a warning to get the vehicle inspected as soon as possible to prevent damaging expensive components. It also can be a sign that your car is getting poor fuel economy and emitting higher levels of emissions. The "check engine" light is part of your car's so-called onboard diagnostics system. When it finds a problem in the electronic system that it can't correct, the computer turns on a yellow warning indicator that's labeled "check engine," "service engine soon" or "check powertrain." Or the light may be nothing more than a picture of an engine, or perhaps just the word "Check." In addition to turning on the light, the computer stores a "trouble code" in its memory that identifies the source of the problem, such as a malfunctioning sensor or a misfiring engine. The code can be read with an electronic scan tool or a diagnostic computer, standard equipment at Green Garage.
