What should I do when the engine light comes on?

The engine light should be one of the most misinterpreted lights on the dashboard of a car, but in fact, the “check engine” light means a lot of possibilities, it could just be that your gas cap is loose, or your engine has a misfire and other problems.

But that doesn’t mean you have to stop your car and call a tow truck to take your car to be inspected. The first thing you should do is to take your car to be serviced as soon as possible.

The “check engine” light is part of what is called an onboard diagnostic system. Since the 1980s, computers have increasingly controlled and monitored the performance of vehicles, regulating engine speed (RPM), automatically adjusting transmission shifts, and so on.

When the electronic control system finds a problem that cannot be corrected, the computer will turn on an indicator light marked “engine check”, “service engine soon”, or “check powertrain”, or in some cars, the indicator light is in the shape of an engine, or the words “check The light is in the shape of an engine or the word “check” is written under the engine.

In addition to turning on the light, the computer stores a “trouble code” in its memory that identifies the source of the problem, such as a faulty sensor or misfiring engine. The code can be read with an electronic scan tool or diagnostic computer, standard equipment in auto repair stores. There are also relatively inexpensive code readers designed for do-it-yourselfers.

When the engine light comes on, depending on the vehicle model and the problem, some will flash non-stop, some will stay on, and some later models will have a difference of red/yellow, etc.

In most cases, if the light stays flashing or appears red, it indicates a problem that needs immediate attention, most likely an engine misfire, etc., which could lead to more serious problems, and when this happens, you should try to reduce the use of the vehicle and send it in for inspection immediately.

If it is a yellow or steady light, it may not be a very urgent problem, but you should still make an appointment to have it checked as soon as possible.

When the engine light comes on, the following points require special attention.

Look for serious problems that need immediate attention. Check the instrument panel and indicator lights for low oil pressure or overheating. Once you find a safe place to do so, you should shut off the engine. On some cars, a yellow “check engine” means investigate the problem, while a red “check engine” means stop now.

Try to tighten the gas cap. In many cases, this simple act will solve the problem. After tightening it, you can drive a little for a couple of hundred meters, and the light will probably go off by itself.

Reduce speed and load. If the “check engine” light is flashing, or you notice any serious performance problems (such as loss of power), slow down immediately and reduce the engine’s load. If the situation is difficult, tow the vehicle and have it inspected as soon as possible to prevent more serious damage.