don’t freak out when your check engine light comes on

Don’t Freak OutDon’t Freak Out When Your Check Engine When Your Check Engine

Light Comes OnLight Comes On

We have all We have all been there.been there.

Driving along when that Driving along when that dreaded light on your dreaded light on your

dashboard lights up and dashboard lights up and says "says "Check EngineCheck Engine".".

So what do So what do you do?you do?

Immediately pull over to the side Immediately pull over to the side of the road and call the tow of the road and call the tow truck?truck?

Just continue on thinking that Just continue on thinking that you'll take care of it later?you'll take care of it later?

I know I've been guilty of I know I've been guilty of the latter.the latter.

What should What should you do?you do?

After talking with my After talking with my mechanic buddy I learned mechanic buddy I learned that when that light comes that when that light comes

on you need to observe on you need to observe what the light is doing to what the light is doing to decide what your next decide what your next

step should be.step should be.

1.1. Occasional flashes indicate a momentary Occasional flashes indicate a momentary malfunction.malfunction.

2.2. If the light comes on and stays on it If the light comes on and stays on it means the problem is more serious like means the problem is more serious like an issue with your emissions output or an issue with your emissions output or even a vehicle safety issue.even a vehicle safety issue.

3.3. A constantly flashing 'Check Engine' light A constantly flashing 'Check Engine' light means its time to pull over and think means its time to pull over and think about that tow truck because there is a about that tow truck because there is a major problem.major problem.

Whenever the Check Whenever the Check Engine light comes on the Engine light comes on the

vehicle's computer will vehicle's computer will record all the sensor record all the sensor

readings at the time of the readings at the time of the malfunction.malfunction.

This is known as a This is known as a 'freeze 'freeze frameframe'. '.

This picture of the status This picture of the status of your engine is very of your engine is very

valuable for figuring out valuable for figuring out what the problem is.what the problem is.

This information is accessible with This information is accessible with the use of an auto code reader either the use of an auto code reader either by your mechanic or by you if you by your mechanic or by you if you have a code reader.have a code reader.

The reader hooks up to a plug-in The reader hooks up to a plug-in easily found under your dash and will easily found under your dash and will give you a code that corresponds to give you a code that corresponds to the malfunction.the malfunction.

Depending on the scanner it will tell Depending on the scanner it will tell you what part is responsible, how to you what part is responsible, how to repair it and also reset the Check repair it and also reset the Check Engine light.Engine light.

Your mechanic has an OBD2 code Your mechanic has an OBD2 code scanner that is more advanced than scanner that is more advanced than what the typical vehicle owner has what the typical vehicle owner has access to access to

Plus he has the experience to Plus he has the experience to determine what caused the particular determine what caused the particular part or sensor to malfunction.part or sensor to malfunction.

Owning your own OBDII Owning your own OBDII scan tool makes sense if scan tool makes sense if you want to know what you want to know what

the problem is before you the problem is before you go into the shop.go into the shop.

Get Your Own Code ReaderGet Your Own Code Reader

It can save you the cost of the It can save you the cost of the diagnostic scan and if you are handy diagnostic scan and if you are handy working on cars it can really save working on cars it can really save you some cash. you some cash.

Just use common sense before you Just use common sense before you start replacing parts to fix the start replacing parts to fix the problem.problem.

Think you're ready to Think you're ready to tackle that Check Engine tackle that Check Engine

light and save some light and save some money with your own money with your own

OBD2 scan tool?OBD2 scan tool?

Check Out theCheck Out theReviews on Scanners AtReviews on Scanners At

www.obdiiscantoolreviews.comwww.obdiiscantoolreviews.com