So that pesky little light is lit up on your dashboard. What is it? Why is it on? What should I do? Will it hurt it to keep driving? I have heard these questions many times over the years and it is the purpose of the next few articles to answer these questions and give some tips on how to find a good shop here in the Indianapolis area (or anywhere for that matter) and not pay too much for your trouble.
First things first, there are any number of warning lights on your dashboard and generally the newer the vehicle the more lights/symbols there are that pop on and off at different times. The “Malfunction Indicator Lamp” or MIL will be the words “check engine”, “service engine soon”, or a little symbol of an engine as seen in the photos. That light can come on for a variety of reasons ranging from the mundane (loose gas cap) to the severe (internal engine problem). Why such a wide range? Well…the E.P.A. requires that light pop on anytime the emissions coming out of your tailpipe are not within a specified range. Car companies also use the MIL as a general catchall to indicate other more serious issues a vehicle may be having.
OK enough with the history lesson, right? The light is on. Now what do I do? Well if your light is on and there are no other problems with the vehicle that you can feel/hear/see, then you can schedule a trip to the shop within a few weeks or at your earliest convenience. You can also check the gas cap to make sure it is not loose or missing. Newer vehicles will pop the MIL if the cap is loose or if you were filling up with your vehicle running. It’s the E.P.A. again not wanting gas fumes leaking out of your vehicle. If your cap is loose and you secure it back on the MIL will not automatically go off. It will take a few days worth of driving before that happens.
If your MIL is on and you are having other noticeable symptoms such as, running rough, surging while driving, funny noises, then it is time to get it into the shop. At this time, it would be a good idea to really pay attention to details and even write down exactly what is happening and when. This will help your local auto tech immensely and save you time and money later. Here is an example of being specific: “my car runs rough while driving between 30-40 mph and only after I have been driving for 15 minutes or more”. If the tech knows exact conditions, that cuts down on the diagnostic time (and money) and gets you your vehicle back sooner.
If your MIL is on and flashing (and if it is, you are definitely experiencing other noticeable symptoms) it means STOP what you are doing and have your vehicle towed to your local shop. Any more driving under those conditions can (and will) cause serious internal engine damage.
Comments