Nothing is scarier than seeing this infamous yellow light pop up on your dashboard mid-drive. In that instance, your heart probably dropped, and you are probably contemplating whether you should pull over. But should you or can you wait until you get home?
The answer is, it depends on the behavior of the check engine light. If the check engine light is flashing, the situation is dire, and you should stop driving immediately. In this case, it would be best to call a tow to an auto repair shop. While a steady check engine light indicates a problem, it can wait until you get to your destination before you check it out. You can technically continue driving with a steady check engine light, but you should still get help for it ASAP.
Since your dashboard warning lights are connected to your vehicle’s onboard diagnostic system, error codes need to be scanned to get closer to the problem. This makes check engine lights pretty tricky to diagnose without the proper scan tools or expertise. We recommend taking your car to a trusted auto repair shop like Superior Tire & Autocraft.
Once we hook up your car to a high-tech scanner, our technicians can crack the code to be pointed in the right direction of the problem. A check engine light can come on for one of the following reasons:
- Loose or damaged gas gap
- Faulty oxygen sensor
- Damaged mass airflow sensor
- Failing or clogged catalytic converter
- Worn spark plugs
- & More.
You should not neglect a check engine light and expect it to go away on its own. Check engine lights indicate a problem that needs repairs, so please bring your car to Superior Tire & Autocraft soon for check engine light diagnostics and repairs.