If you’re like most car owners, the last thing you ever want to see on your car’s dashboard is the check engine light. Sullivan’s Auto Service & Tire Pros knows that is not a good feeling, so we’ve got some information for you that can help you to make the best decision in that situation.
Don’t Pretend it Isn’t There
The worst thing you can to is to ignore the check engine light. That light is there to let you know that there’s an issue that needs to be addressed as soon as you can. It doesn’t mean necessarily that the engine is about to die right now, but it does mean that you’re going to need to take some action. There are some steps you can take.
Check for Other Lights or Errors
Take a deep breath and make sure that you scan the dashboard for any other lights or warnings. It’s easy to overlook them once you see the dreaded check engine light, so it’s important to take a quick look. Doing this can help you to spot easy solutions that might be exactly what has your car’s onboard computer warning you.
Did You Get Gas Recently?
Probably the easiest solution is your car’s gas cap. If you recently got gas and didn’t fully tighten down the gas cap, your car’s onboard computer detects that and lets you know that there’s a problem. But there’s no light just for the gas cap and leaving the gas cap unsealed will eventually impact your car’s engine. Take a second to give the cap an extra twist or two and make sure to listen for the clicks.
Get Help Sooner Rather than Later
If these actions don’t solve the problem, you need to take your car to an experienced auto technician. Your car won’t necessarily die on the way to the auto shop, but you should be a little careful while you’re driving it. Putting off a trip to the shop is only going to prolong your issues and might cause the problem to get worse while you’re waiting.
Don’t wait, give Sullivan’s Auto Service & Tire Pros in Seaside, CA a call right away if you spot your check engine light. We’ll get you set up with an appointment for computer diagnostics. Those tests will help us to narrow down the cause of the problem for your engine and get it corrected quickly and safely.