You’re driving, when suddenly the dreadful yellow-orange Check Engine Light comes on!
What should you do? Click to learn about GOFAR
Keep driving or pull over?
It can be confusing. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Check engine light is flashing.
The check engine light is typically a yellow or red engine shaped icon situated in the middle of your vehicle dashboard, behind the driving wheel. If it’s flashing for more than 6 seconds, that is potentially an emergency situation.
Step 2: Stop driving. Safely pull over.
Slow down, pull over to the kerb and stop. This will give you time to check on the problem. Otherwise, you risk damaging your car.
Step 3: Diagnose the issue with a diagnostic app
If the check engine light is on and steady (not flashing), you can keep driving as long as the car isn’t performing strangely. How is it handling? Driving straight or wonky? Do you hear any strange sounds from the engine bay? Can you see any steam or smoke coming from the car? Use your hands, eyes, ears and nose to assess whether there is something unusual happening with your car.
Step 4: Fix the problem. Decide whether to install an OBD2 diagnostics device or visit a mechanic.
An OBD2 scanner is able to diagnose the car warning light problem and alert you to future issues. A diagnostics tool, such as GOFAR (view full feature list), can be used by anyone, not just a mechanic. GOFAR comes pre-loaded with 20,000+ error codes and tells you, in non-technical terms, what the issue is with your vehicle.
Get GOFAR Now! – It’s like having a mechanic in your pocket.
Why is your Check Engine Light Flashing?
Let’s dig a little deeper into why your dashboard warning lights are on …
Every car has an assortment of car warning lights on the dashboard and they all have a different meaning. The check engine light is easily identified. It looks like an engine and typically includes words such as “check.” Usually yellow or red.
It’s main function is to let you, as the driver, know that one of the car’s sensors is not functioning correctly. The check engine light will either be in a solid unblinking state or flashing.
Whenever you start your car you’ll notice that the check engine light glows temporarily – usually for around six seconds.
Every error light has a corresponding error code. These are diagnosed, and explained, by an OBD2 Scanner.
The cost for an OBD2 scanner ranges from a few dollars to hundreds. You can buy a quality scanner online.
Don’t Trust Your Mechanic? Get help here
What Could Cause Your Check Engine Light to Come On?
The Check Engine Light, also called the Malfunction Indicator Light(MIL) is a warning light (sometimes called a tell-tale) that indicates a malfunction with your vehicle (as detected by your car’s computerised engine-management system).
When something goes wrong in this complex collection of components and sensors, it triggers this light.
It’s usually displayed on your dashboard as a pictogram or symbol of an engine, or sometimes simply CHECK ENGINE, or CHECK ENGINE SOON.
Did You Know? – When you start the car, the check engine light always comes on. But if no problems are detected, it should turn off within 6 seconds.
When the check engine light does stay on… Don’t. Panic.
Check whether your car is behaving differently. Is it bucking, surging, or making unusual sounds?
If you observe nothing strangely unusual, you could keep driving to your nearest car dealership or repair centre.
The warning light usually has 2 stages:
- Steady (indicating a minor fault); and
- Flashing (indicating a severe fault).
When the light is on, the engine control unit actually stores a fault code related to the malfunction, which can be read and interpreted by an On-Board-Diagnostics or OBD2 scan tool.
All cars built in the US after 1996, in Australia after 2006 (petrol) and 2007 (diesel), in Canada after 1998, and in the UK and Europe after 2001 (petrol) and 2004 (diesel), are OBD2-compliant.
Your mechanic will then read the generated fault codes on your car’s computer using a scan tool and recommend the necessary repairs or parts required to rectify the problem/s… and bill you for the cost, of course.
The thing is, this warning light can indicate almost anything from a loose fuel cap to a (far more serious) engine knock.
OR… You could stay one step ahead of your mechanic and use GOFAR to self-diagnose your car’s fault codes and immediately understand the severity of the fault.
GOFAR explains more than 300 common error codes in plain, simple English.
No confusing acronyms, no technical jargon, no obscure references that only automotive engineers can decipher. Just an easy-to-understand explanation of what your car’s computer is trying to tell you is wrong.
Most Common Causes for the Check Engine Light to Come on
Faulty Oxygen Sensor
The Oxygen Sensor measures the amount of oxygen in your exhaust system. It then communicates this information to your car’s computer so that it can adjust the engine’s air and fuel mixture.
When your oxygen sensor is faulty, your car will use up more fuel and produce more emissions.
A faulty oxygen sensor is not an alarming problem, but get your mechanic fix it as soon as is convenient.
Faulty Gas Cap / Fuel Cap
A cracked, faulty or loose gas cap / fuel cap can cause your engine light to come on – mainly because the fuel system has a vapour leak.
In other cases, it could be a more serious leak in the upper portion of the fuel system.
Tighten or replace the gas cap, then keep driving. After driving for a while, the check engine light should go off. if it doesn’t, it may be time to ask your mechanic to check it out.
Failed Catalytic Converter
A Catalytic Converter controls emissions in your car’s exhaust system. It converts carbon monoxide and other harmful gases into less harmful byproducts.
If your catalytic converter is failing, you’ll spend more money on fuel and your car’s performance will be impacted.
A catalytic converter is generally an expensive car part, costing around $500-$1,000 each. And some cars have four of them!
Therefore, if it is the cause for your car check engine light to come on, get a mechanic to check it out. Do not attempt to drive any further as you could cause costly damage to your car.
Faulty Mass Airflow (MAF) Sensor
The Mass Airflow Sensor or MAF Sensor helps your car’s computer determine the amount of fuel to be added based on the amount of air coming into the motor.
A common cause of MAF sensor failures is a dirty air filter or one that’s not properly installed.
A MAF sensor failure is not an emergency. However, until you have it replaced, you will experience a decrease in fuel economy, poor car performance, and rough engine idle.
Since your car’s air intake system is quite technical, get a professional mechanic to fix a faulty mass air flow sensor.
Faulty Spark Plugs
Do you replace your vehicle’s spark plugs according to your car’s maintenance schedule in your manual? If you’re not sure, check with your service provider.
If not, bad or failing spark plugs could be the reason your check engine light is on. Have them replaced as soon as possible by a certified mechanic.
Faulty Ignition Coil
The Ignition Coil is part of your vehicle’s ignition system.
It functions as an induction coil by converting a vehicle’s voltage to the required volts so that it triggers the spark plug to ignite the engine’s air-fuel mixture.
When the ignition coil burns or shorts, the check engine light will come on.
If the ignition coil is faulty, it is worth getting your entire vehicle’s ignition system checked by a mechanic or auto-electrician.
Faulty Charging System
Unless you want to find yourself in a situation where you need to jump start your car, ensure you have your battery checked regularly and that the charging system is working smoothly.
If your car won’t start, the problem could be a fault with the alternator or some other part of the vehicle’s electrical charging system.
How Urgent is the Check Engine Light?
There are several reasons why a Check Engine Light may come on. Whether it’s something as minor as a loose gas cap or something more serious like a failed catalytic converter, it should be checked out and fixed.
Let’s look at the urgency levels in more detail…
Flashing Check Engine Light
The rule of thumb is that if the check engine light is flashing, you can’t keep driving the car. It’s an emergency. Often it indicates an engine misfire.
If you keep driving, you will likely cause irreversible damage, mostly to the (expensive) catalytic converter.
Don’t risk that expense – have your car towed to a certified mechanic for repair.
Steady Check Engine Light
It’s okay to drive the car if the check engine light is steady. But only if the vehicle’s essential systems such as brakes and lights are operational.
Keep a close eye on your car’s dashboard warning lights, including the coolant temperature and oil pressure.
You can also use an OBD2 Reader (also called a OBDII Scanner) such as GOFAR to erase the fault codes and reset the check engine light.
Warning: Do not ignore the issue if it is serious. Take your car as soon as possible to a certified professional for proper diagnosis and repair.
Can the Engine Light Go Off On Its Own?
Until the cause of the Check Engine Light coming on is addressed, it will remain on.
Once the error codes from your vehicle’s computer are addressed and cleared from its memory, the Check Engine Light will go off, as long asthere are no more failures that would turn the light back on and trigger another warning code.
How do You Diagnose Car Check Engine Light Warnings?
If you don’t know the exact reason why your Check Engine Light is on, then it can be very difficult to immediately determine if it’s safe enough for you to drive or not.
The good news is that an OBD Code Reader like GOFAR is a cheap and easy way to self-diagnose your car’s common errors.
GOFAR constantly monitors your car’s health and instantly alerts you to any problems it detects.
Right on your smartphone.
Explained in plain English – what the car warning light means, its severity and what you should do about it… before it becomes expensive.
Protecting your precious asset 24-7-365, whether it cost you $10,000 or $100,000, has never been more cost-effective.
Car Diagnostics In 2019 And Beyond
As we move beyond 2019 and further into the 2020s, cars are becoming increasingly smarter as connectivity and the Internet of Things change the way the automotive industry adapts to these innovations.
Vehicle maintenance is becoming increasingly defined by concepts such as remote diagnostics and even predictive diagnostics (or prognostics, as opposed to traditional diagnostics) – made possible by emerging tech like artificial intelligence and deep learning neural networks.
Industry research forecasts that the global automotive remote diagnostics market will grow at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of almost 17% from 2017 to 2021.
Having access to your car’s ‘brain’ (called an ECU or ECM) through affordable tools such as GOFAR is an easy way to take advantage of all this innovation without having to spend thousands on expensive equipment or understand the increasing complexity of your vehicles.
In conclusion
Don’t let the Check Engine Light make you panic and ruin your drive to work.
Just remember:
- When the check engine light is flashing, it’s an emergency and you need to safely pull over and then tow your car to the mechanic.
- Learn about car warning lights in our resource centre.
- When the light is solid/steady, you can keep driving but use a leave-in OBD2 scanner like GOFAR to identify the issue.
Related: Car Warning Lights Resource Centre
FAQs
How long can I drive my car with check engine light on? ›
Can you drive a car with the engine light on? It's okay to drive for a few miles, but be sure to schedule an inspection of the engine as soon as possible. If the check engine light comes on while you're driving, don't panic! Pay attention and see if the car is driving any differently than normal.
How serious is a check engine light? ›If the check engine light illuminates, it will either blink or remain constantly illuminated, depending on the problem. A blinking light, or in some cars a red light instead of a yellow or orange light, indicates a problem that needs immediate attention. Either way, you should have the vehicle checked by a mechanic.
What happens if I drive with the check engine light on? ›Safety Risks When Driving with a Check Engine Light On
If this is an issue, you could be a hazard on a busy road or a steep incline. Even more dangerous, a repeated engine misfiring issue can cause damage to your catalytic converter, severe vibrations, and even backfiring.
If the check engine light comes on, it's one dashboard light you should not ignore. Whether for a week, a month, or a year, if you ignore the check engine light, it puts your vehicle, and by extension, your personal safety at risk.
What is the most common reason for check engine light? ›The emissions/exhaust system is the most likely culprit for many check engine lights being illuminated. There could be an exhaust leak or a problem with the catalytic converter. The mass airflow sensor (MAF) is another sensor that is easily tripped or can fail.
Can a check engine light turn off by itself? ›A check-engine light will shut itself off if the condition that caused it is remedied. So, if your converter is marginal, and you did a lot of stop-and-go driving, which creates high demand for the converter, that might have turned on the check-engine light.
Can I drive with orange engine light on? ›Is it safe to drive with the engine management light on? Generally, unless there are other symptoms that's something's wrong, you can continue driving to your destination. You should then get your vehicle looked at by an expert as soon as possible to avoid risking further damage to your car.
Can check engine light mean oil change? ›Your Car Needs an Oil Change
An illuminated check engine light is the first warning sign that your vehicle needs an oil change. It can activate because the oil is too dirty or when there's not enough flowing throughout the engine.
If nothing seems to be acting strange, then it is probably safe to drive it until you can get it into a mechanic. Sometimes the light may come on after fueling if the gas cap is a little loose. Or it could mean your catalytic converter needs to be inspected.
What is the first thing to check when the check engine light comes on? ›Loose Gas Cap
This is the first item you should check. The gas cap seals the fuel system ensuring proper pressure is maintained in the gas tank. If your gas cap isn't on tightly or appears chipped or cracked, this could be the reason your check engine light is on.
Can AutoZone tell me what my check engine light is on for? ›
AutoZone can diagnose Check Engine Light codes, yes. If your engine light is on and you are wondering why head down to your local AutoZone where one of our store associates can help diagnose the issue through our free Fix Finder service.
Will check engine light go off after tightening gas cap? ›Then tighten the gas cap with your hand until you hear the cap click in place. If it does not click in place or is loose after clicking into place the cap needs to be replaced. The check engine light should go off after you drive for several minutes if the light was caused by a loose gas cap.
Is an orange check engine light serious? ›An orange or amber light is the least serious. If this light comes on and persists, it means that you should be able to keep driving as normal, but take your car to be looked at by a garage as soon as you can.
What does a solid check engine light mean? ›A steady check engine light indicates a non-emergency issue, such as a loose gas cap. Flashing check engine lights warn of severe situations requiring immediate attention. Standardized diagnostic codes help identify the trouble.
Can a dirty oil filter cause check engine light to come on? ›When an oil filter malfunctions, debris in the oil makes its way to the engine. This debris can, over time, gum up the inner workings of the engine, causing other parts to malfunction and fail. When this happens, the check engine light comes on as an indicator of a problem.
Why did my check engine light go on then off? ›When the check engine light comes on, then clears by itself, it means that there is an intermittent fault. Get the car scanned, it will show the fault code in the code history. It may be something as simple as a lose gas cap, or something more important that may come back and even leave you stranded somewhere.
What makes a check engine light turn off? ›The computer systems in your vehicle work in a continuous cycle. When you fix a problem that was causing the check engine light, it may take a while for the computer system to refresh its 'present state. ' Once it does, it will recognize the diagnostic is no longer flagging an issue and the light will go off.