What causes check engine light to flash professional#

You can stop on the hard shoulder on a motorway or just a car park.ДЄ loose fuel cap can mean your fuel is getting contaminated by dirt, bugs, or water while driving. These could indicate low oil pressure or overheating and can be fixed once you pull over. There are several minor issues that you can solve which may get the light to come off. What can I do about the check engine warning light?

What causes check engine light to flash professional#

This is best left to a professional mechanic who can use his expertise and experience to make the right judgment as to what is needed. This may entail replacing parts to eliminate any potential causes. Further investigation is needed to pinpoint the actual underlying issue. Fault codes will point to a problem area on a car and not an exact repair. Your light will come on again.ДЄ diagnostic tool will show you all the fault codes on your vehicle, but it does not show you exactly which parts need replacing or what repairs are needed. Some diagnostic tools can even switch the light off, which may be tempting to do but keep in mind that it will not actually make the problem go away. These cost anywhere from ВЈ15-ВЈ40 but some older cars may require expensive specialist tools instead. You could buy your own plug-in diagnostic tool which connects to the carвЂ™s onboard diagnostics (OBD) port. The problem can easily be found with a diagnostic tool and will save you money in the long run! Can I diagnose the check engine light myself? Make sure you never ignore the check engine light and get it looked at before it is too late. However, the issues will be hidden in your fuel efficiency and emission levels. Newer cars will alter how the engine works so performance is not severely affected, meaning you may not feel a problem for a long time. Remember, you may not feel immediately something is wrong with the car even if the check engine light is on. ItвЂ™s therefore important to get a check of the engine light and get it fixed so that your car can coast through the MOT without any issues. The emissions are checked during an MOT so if there is an issue your car will fail its MOT. After all, the check engine light will sometimes mean there is an emissions problem with your car.

A check engine light can also cause issues when you take your car for an MOT. ItвЂ™s also essential that you pass your MOT and a faulty engine may mean your car is no longer roadworthy. This will let you budget the problem before it spirals into a more expensive problem. You should get a quote for the amount to fix the issue, and the amount of time before it causes further damage. Remember that the check engine light in all cases means that engine performance is being impacted, hurting your fuel consumption and wallet as you pay for more fuel. The light comes on, what do you do? A solid light means you should get the car checked soon, while a blinking light needs immediate treatment. Can I just ignore a check engine warning light? A flash when starting the car isnвЂ™t an issue, itвЂ™s just a check by the ECU to make sure the system is working. The check engine light will usually come up in an orange, yellow or amber colour depending on the manufacturer, and a flashing light usually means there is a more serious issue. A service light means that you need an oil change or other similar maintenance, bear in mind that if the light is ignored it can easily lead to a check engine light, as your engine will grind to a halt without oil. Remember, a вЂњservice requiredвЂ™ light is not to be confused with a вЂњcheck engineвЂќ light, however, these are related. Some rare cars may require a dealer to read off certain fault codes, they will have specialist equipment for those vehicles. Mechanics will have a plug-in diagnostic tool that will display the issue to them. Diagnostic inspections usually cost around ВЈ40 to ВЈ60 depending on where you are in the country. If your check engine light does come up itвЂ™s worth getting a diagnostic done to pinpoint the exact underlying problem. Exhaust emissions issues, battery issues or other engine related issues can all be causes. There are a number of issues that can make the check engine light come on. The check engine light, also known as the Malfunction Indicator Lamp, is a signal from the engine control unit (ECU) which indicates that there is a fault with the engine system. This means any small issues can be taken care of before they cause further damage, or even void your carвЂ™s next MOT. Regardless of the worry, you should get it looked at. It could mean there is an expensive problem like a catalytic converter issue, or there might just be a loose part. A check engine light might leave you with a sinking feeling, and a burning hole in your wallet.