Decoding the Check Engine Light: What Every Driver Needs to Know

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Check engine light car is the most misunderstood indicator on your car’s dashboard. Imagine you are driving on the highway, and everything seems good, but suddenly the “check engine” light comes on.

From a loose gas cap to a serious misfiring engine, this small yellow (sometimes red or orange) light can mean different things. Let us dive into this blog and discuss the check engine light meaning, its importance, what you should do if the light goes on, and more.

Why should you not ignore the check engine light?

People often confuse the check engine light with the maintenance required light. However, these two are not the same. If we talk about the maintenance required light, it goes on when your car demands routine maintenance and service, such as an oil change. On the other hand, the check engine light symbol goes on in case of any unexpected occurrence.

Many new car models feature check engine lights in different colors and modes. It is useful as it helps identify the seriousness of the problem. Therefore, if your car has a check light on car feature that glows red or keeps on flashing, you should immediately take your car to a mechanic shop.

While a red light indicates higher severity, a solid yellow or orange light indicates lower severity. But it does not mean that everything is fine as a check engine light is anyways a sign that there is something wrong with the car and you need to get that issue fixed as soon as possible.

What does the check engine light look like?

If you see a yellow “check engine” light, do not panic or stop the car right away. Although it means that something is wrong, it is probably not a major engine failure. All you need to do is keep driving carefully and plan to get your car checked.

However, if the light is constantly blinking or is red or orange instead of yellow, it means there is a serious problem that can cause immediate damage. Therefore, if you see this, you should waste no time to address the issue right away.

When can your check engine light go on?

When the computer of your car detects a problem with the engine or transmission, it turns on the check engine light symbol. Ignoring this light could turn a small fix into an expensive and time-consuming repair. The check engine light car can turn on in the following cases:

Loose gas cap
Internal engine issue
Problem with or theft of the catalytic converter
Faulty spark plug, spark plug wires or ignition coils
Malfunctioning oxygen sensor
Damaged mass airflow sensor
Bad tank of gas

What to do when your check engine light comes on?

If you find your check engine light symbol on, notice how your car feels while driving. If you feel that something might be off, do not think twice and drive to the nearest mechanic to get the car checked. However, if you do not feel that something is off and the car feels fine while driving, you can skip going to the mechanic and check some things yourself.

Loose gas cap is one common problem that many people face. If your engine indicator light turns on after getting gas, check the gas cap if it is tightly screwed on and in good condition.

Another possibility is bad gas. If your gas required premium gas (octane 91 to 94) but you used regular gas (octane 87), your engine might cause some issues. In this case, you can have a professional mechanic drain the bad gas or drive the car empty as long as your car is not overheating or running poorly.

If you think something else might be wrong, consider checking the engine light code using an OBD-II scanner if you are familiar with cars. Otherwise, visiting a mechanic is the best option as they know how to read the code and identify the issues.

What can happen if you ignore your check engine light?

If you ignore the engine indicator light and the sign of going to the mechanic, you might have to deal with bigger and more expensive problems later. That is because the problem that triggered the light could worsen and damage other parts of your engine or transmission. This could lead to long-term damage that even your car insurance might not cover.

Moreover, you will not pass your next car inspection until the check light on car is off and the problem is fixed. Therefore, it is best to address the issue promptly. If you are worried about the cost of unexpected repairs, you might want to look into mechanical breakdown insurance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1- Can I drive the car with the check engine light on?

Ans. Yes, you can drive the car with a check engine light on but not blinking. In other words, if you see the check engine light flashing, you should stop the car and get it checked immediately.

Q2- Can low oil cause a check engine light?

Ans. Yes, low oil levels can indirectly cause the engine indicator light to come on. That is because modern cars have sensors to monitor the performance of the engine. The check engine light will come on if they detect something off, such as high temperatures due to low oil.

Q3- Why is my check engine light on but my car seems fine?

Ans. If you cannot see any symptoms, your check engine light may indicate some problem with your computer, transmission errors, a loose gas cap or 02 sensor issues. If the check engine light is blinking, quickly pull over and call a mechanic for help.

Q4- How to fix a check engine light?

Ans. Here are some things you can do to fix a check engine light car:

Check for any serious problem that requires immediate attention.
Tighten your gas cap
Decrease load and speed
Utilize built-in diagnostic services, if available

Q5- Can a check engine light correct itself?

Ans. Yes, a check engine light can turn off by itself after the issue that caused it is fixed. However, the light may take some time to reset and know that the issue may be resolved.