What Does Check Engine Light Usually Mean

A blinking light or in some cars a red light instead of a yellow or orange.

What does check engine light usually mean.

A person can still drive a car even if the check engine light is on without experiencing any kind of problem but it is better to get the car checked as a glowing check engine light is not a good sign. However it does not replace a skilled mechanic or routine maintenance. A steady light means there s no immediate cause for alarm but you should still get it checked out. When your car s check engine light illuminates your dashboard it s usually accompanied by a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach.

If the check engine light is flashing or blinking that usually indicates a misfire or other serious issue that requires prompt repair and should be dealt with quickly at an auto repair shop. One thing that can really throw us for a loop is when the check engine light comes on in our vehicles. There are many reasons as to why it s on and they usually aren t a huge problem. The light could be a minor issue such as a faulty gas cap.

Regardless it s easy to find out what the issue is and taking care of it quickly can save you money and prevent further damage down to the road. 3 reasons why your volkswagen check engine light is on by product expert posted in tips and tricks vw service on friday july 14th 2017 at 4 13 pm. Found on the instrument panel of most automobiles it usually bears the legend engine check engine service engine soon maintenance required emmiss maint or a pictogram of an engine and when illuminated it is typically an amber or red color. A check engine light or malfunction indicator lamp mil is a tell tale that a computerized engine management system uses to indicate a malfunction.

The on board diagnostics system and engine control unit are in charge of monitoring a bunch of different parameters and if they get a reading that s a little out of whack up pops the check engine light. A flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle s engine is in serious trouble whereas a steadily lit one means less urgent service is needed. If the check engine light illuminates it will either blink or remain constantly illuminated depending on the problem.