Home » Engine Light Warns of Potential Repair Problems

"We learn wisdom from failure more than from success; we often discover what will do by finding out what will not do." - Samuel Smiles

This past week I was driving to work in non rush hour traffic when the Check Engine Light turned on and stayed on. I discovered that this malfunction indicator lamp comes on to indicate that there is a problem and service is required to remedy this situation.

Many vehicles are equipped with a computer which monitors operation of the fuel, ignition and emission control systems. This system is called OBD II (On Board Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended to assure that emissions are at an acceptable level for the life of the vehicle , ultimately helping to produce a cleaner environment.

According to my vehicle's manual " malfunctions often will be indicated by the system before any problem is apparent". Comforting to know that fact if you're not too automotive savvy. This may also prevent more serious damage to your vehicle. The system is also designed to assist the service technician in correctly diagnosing any malfunction.

The fact that the light remained on worried me. Ten days earlier I had my car serviced with an oil change, new filter, air cleaner inspection and spring mini tune up. I thought I had covered all the trouble spots. The urge to dial AUTO 911 raced through my mind. The light remained steadily on and did not blink.

If the indicator warning light is flashing an engine misfire condition has been detected. A misfire increases vehicle emissions and may damage the emission control system on your vehicle. What to do? Reduce your speed. Avoid hard accelerations. Avoid steep uphill grades.

If you are towing a trailer reduce the amount of cargo being hauled as soon as possible. When it is safe to do so, stop the vehicle and park it in a safe place away from traffic flow. Turn the key off and wait about 10 seconds before you restart. If the light still flashes after taking these steps then drive your car to a qualified service center for service.

In my circumstance the warning light remained on and was not blinking . An emission control system malfunction had been detected on my vehicle. What to do next? Ask the following questions to determine what might have happened.

Did I recently fill the gas tank and not replace the fuel cap properly? No I did not. If the answer is yes simply replace the gas cap properly. The car's diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap has been left off or improperly installed. A loose or missing fuel cap will allow fuel to escape into the atmosphere. A few driving trips in the car should turn the light off.

Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water? If so the car's electrical system might be wet. This condition will usually be corrected when the electrical system dries out. Once again a few trips in the car should turn the light off.

Have you recently changed brands of fuel? A poor quality fuel will cause your engine to not run as efficiently as designed. You may notice your car stalling after startup, stalling when you put the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation on acceleration or even stumbling on acceleration. These conditions may go away once the car is warmed up and running. These situations will be detected by the system and the light will come on.

In my situation I checked the oil level to see if it had been filled. It had been filled. Then I replaced the gas cap tightly. . I was using a locking gas cap that was a few years old. The seal on the cap may have worn away . So i replaced it with a regular style of cap.

Driving home after work the light turned off. Mission accomplished. A few simple steps had in this instance rectified a scarry engine repair situation. Now I'm more aware of how I manage my car and how my car's computer monitored systems protect me from expensive repairs.