Why You should NOT ignore a Check Engine Light

It’s funny how differently people react to check engine lights. Some people panic, shut off the car and call me IMMEDIATELY. I can hear the panic in their voice, “The CHECK ENGINE LIGHT came on!!!! Is it going to cost me MILLIONS$ ????? HELP ME!!!!!!” 

Other people come to Carma and say, “Oh yeah, that light has been on for years. Someone told me it is probably just a loose gas cap seal. I just don’t worry about it since the car still runs. But now my engine is making noise and the car does not accelerate well. But I’m sure the check engine light has nothing to do with it”. 

My best advice - DON’T PANIC! But also do not ignore it. And do not leave it on if you can help it. 

Yes, the check engine light can indicate something as insignificant as a loose gas cap. But it can also indicate that there are serious concerns with your vehicle. So leaving it on prevents you from knowing that there is now a more important issue as well as a loose gas cap. 

The check engine light is a catch-all bucket for numerous warnings. It can also indicate other issues if you do not address it quickly. 

And just to make it more fun, sometimes check engine lights do not come on at all when there is a problem! Or they come on and then turn off! 

The one time I definitely want you to turn off the vehicle is if your check engine light is flashing. PLEASE stop driving and call me if that happens. This means that your vehicle’s engine is starved for something very important such as spark (engine is misfiring) or oil (low oil in the engine can be catastrophic) or air. 

You see, an engine needs fuel (gas that comes from your gas tank), air (it needs to breathe just like you do), spark (this is why it is called a combustion engine, it needs these tiny explosions to make all the engine parts move) and compression (all the engine components need to stay tight so all this can happen at the right time). 

So, it is ALWAYS a good idea to have the issue fixed so that the check engine light is turned off. 

I love sparkling lights as much as the next girl - just not on your dash! 

CARma Auto Care is here to help you with all the causes of your check engine light in Pooler GA, as far away as southside Savannah or as far north as Bluffton SC. 

CARma Auto Care - Creating GREAT CARma in auto repair!