Understanding Your Vehicle’s Check Engine Light

The best time to get ahead of an unexpected car repair Mountlake Terrace WA was yesterday! It’s best not to drive around until the problem happens and catches you off guard, one because it’s bad for your car, and two, you could end up paying a lot more for worse damage. So in order to give you peace of mind and prepare you ahead of time for whatever might come, here is some information on how to interpret those pesky instrument panel lights.

What Lights?

You know, those little icons by the speedometer that everyone ignores? That is the instrument panel and you don’t want to ignore those. They are essentially warning signs from your car that communicates information coming from all the sensors and monitors around the vehicle.

Some auto parts stores will actually do free check engine light testing, so before you decide to take it to a repair shop, have them run a diagnostic test to figure out where the problem is coming from. Once they plug their device into your car’s computer, it could save you in the long run.

The Infamous Check Engine Light

This light will indicate a very broad range of symptoms because one light is used for the whole engine, so it’s best to get it tested to discover the exact problem.

If the light tends to come on and off periodically, it likely means that an oxygen sensor or some other variant has stopped working. This isn’t an immediate issue, but it should be addressed relatively soon.

If the light starts blinking as soon as you turn on your car, you should consider getting that checked immediately, as it usually pertains to a more severe problem.

All in all, pay attention to those lights on the dashboard because it could save you lots of money in the end, and don’t forget that some places will check the light diagnostic for free.