WHy DID THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON?
i would bring it to a shop and have them check for codes.
What should I do if my check engine light appears?
Note the appearance of the light. Then note if it stays lit the entire time you are driving your vehicle. Then note if it also lights up the next time you start up your vehicle...and the time after that.If you've driven the vehicle through 3 full consecutive "cycles" (start up, warm up, driving a minimum 15 minutes in normal conditions, shut down and cool down), and the light stays lit for all 3, then you may safely conclude that the OBD (on board diagnostics) system has noted something is wrong with your engine, even if you have not been able to notice a problem.Next thing you ought to do is take your car to a dealership, service garage, or even a "shadetree mechanic" friend with an OBD scan tool. This is a special type of "test instrument" that plugs into a data port on most cars made in the last 25 years or so. Not all OBD scan tools are compatible with all cars, which is why I suggested going to a dealership first.The scan tool will read the error code stored by the cars "computer chip", a digital device that monitors the engine and keeps constant record on whether or not everything is running according to specs.For instance: say you've got a 2000-ish model Chevy Cavalier. Your check engine light goes on, and you take it to a GM dealer to have the OBD codes read. They plug the OBD scan tool into a port under the steering column and the tool reports say..."P0440". Does that tell them what's wrong?Nope. The full entry for code P0440 in the OBDII GM code list is: "Evaporative Emission Control System Malfunction". So that doesn't explicitly state what the problem is...but it does tell them where to look.BTW, the actual trouble could be anywhere from an old gas cap with a poor seal, to a disconnected hose on the EEC tank, to a failure of a solenoid in the fuel system. All three faults will trigger the check engine light...but none will really interfere with the drive-ability of the car. At least, not immediately.OBD scan tools are available for the automobile owner, and there are pages online where you can get the code entries.P0440 Evaporative Emission Control System MalfunctionA typical OBD II scan tool available at retail stores:Autel AL439 AutoLink OBD-II/EOBD Electrical Test Tool - Walmart.com
Is it true that my VTEC won't engage with my check engine light on?
It depends on the reason that the light is on. If it has anything to do with there not being enough oil then yes, the vtec will not engage, and sometimes your rev limiter will be decreased to a much lower rpm. This is becuase the VTEC requires more oil to flow through the valves than on a regular car, and if that oil is not available, then the computer will shut down the operation of the VTEC to make sure no parts get ruined. So my advice is to change your oil, check the level, and go from there. If it still doesn't work, then it's time to bring it to your mechanic. Good Luck! I hope this helped!
How urgent is a check engine light?
Check engine lights are there for the safety of the driver and passengers as well as protecting the engines internal parts to save time and money.If a light comes on have it check ASAP.I once told a man with a car with a check engine light on and a miss in the motor to have it checked right away.3 weeks later the car would not run without blowing a hole out the EGR valves side.EGR Valve. The Exhaust Gas Re-circulation (EGR) Valve is an integral part of a vehicle's emission control system or EGR System. It controls the engine's emission of Nitrous oxide by reducing combustion temperature.The fouled spark plug had caused a miss in the engine, which in turn caused the unspent fuel to turn to carbon inside the catalytic converter and clog it, causing it to send the fumes back through the EGR valve where it exploded and blew out the side of the EGR valve.Result for not having it checked right away.EGR valve $35, Catalytic converter $300 plus mechanic fees $200Total $535End result, He junked the car.The best part is: Once the Electric cars are common place in the world, the fore mentioned will no longer be a problem.
Check engine light/Autozone?
They read out the error codes, but that doesn't tell even a mechanic what's wrong with the car. Next, various tests have to be done on the car to diagnose what's causing the error code to occur. Read the reference website below to understand more about your check engine light etc. Make sure your gas cap is on correctly by removing and reinstalling it.
Resetting a Check Engine Light?
Does anyone know how to reset a check engine light on a 1995 honda civic? I live in NYS and I just want to pass inspection. I just lost my job and don't have the $$$ to actually fix the problem right now. Again, I just want to pass my inspection. Someone told me that if you unplug the positive terminal of the battery, wait about 20 minutes, then replug it in the codes should be reset and it will be off for a while. Does anyone know if this is true? If so, how long will it last? Thank you in advance!
Check engine light, knock sensor?
My check engine light went on a few days ago and my friend checked my engine for me with the machine and the knock sensor came up. But people are telling me that the knock sensor does not make the check engine light turn on? Is that true? That is the only thing that showed up on the machine
How do I know if the check engine light has been bridged on my car?
Check if the MIL light ( check engine light) shows up with the ' Ignition ON Engine OFf 'It should show pretty much all the lights on the Instrument Panel Cluster ( Dashboard lights)If the MIL light is missing altogether, then of course, there's some foul play.How ever, there are performance enhancement/ Chip tuning tools available in the market, which also have the option of striking out the code trouble code and hence the MIL display altogether.I use HP Tuners to take out the MIL light after I remove Cat cylinders off American makes.Let me know what the status is, and I could be able to help you better.Also, if you notice anything less than a smooth drive, your car probably has something which needs to be fixed.Cheers
Where can you get a free check engine light diagnostic?
It is true most auto parts chains offer free check engine light code reading. Reading the code (s) will tell you the area of the system that is out of whack but not what to do to fix the problem. Example: code is a P0440- that means there is a problem in the evaporative emission control system. It could be a gas cap seal, purge valve, fuel evap lines, fuel tank leak, carbon canister or other fuel related lines or valves. At this point you can start replacing parts that are not returnable if installed until you hit the jackpot, or you can take the vehicle to a shop for diagnosis. A tech with the proper diagnostic equipment can find the fault in less than an hour and potentially save you lots of money and time and effort. Another example is a P0300 code which is a random misfire. Is it a bad spark plug? a plug wire? an ignition coil? an intake valve? an ignition module? who knows? A good technician knows and can tell you quickly. Bottom line is this- it is less expensive and less frustrating to let a technician diagnose the check engine light.
After fueling, my Swift VDi shows the check engine light. What is the reason, and solution?
Assuming that you refuelled after letting your fuel tank to go dry and cranked your engine to start your vehicle and then realized your tank is empty.If my assumption is true, the following explains the reason.Reason: The “Check Engine” lamp glows when there is an active/passive DTC registered in the ECU.While you crank your engine without fuel, a fault code (DTC) will be registered in the Engine control unit (ECU). The DTC is “Fuel pressure too low”. The DTC is in active mode.After you've refuelled and cranked the engine, the fuel pressure readings will be normal and the DTC will be passive and gets stored in the ECU memory for future reference.Solution: Take your vehicle to any authorized service center and erase the DTC stored in the ECU memory with the diagnostic tool.