Always pay attention to the check engine light in your car. This is good advice for any Omaha vehicle owner. Even though most vehicle owners know this fact about their cars, the majority of drivers have no idea what it means when this light comes on.
Check Engine Light: What Does It Mean?
Obviously, this important warning light tells you something when you see it. But what exactly does it mean? Is it telling you that you should pull over and stop driving?
Here are a few different things that this warning light could mean.
Check Your Engine!
The first thing that a check engine light means for your trip is that you should pull over and check your engine. This seems obvious, but for some reason a lot of people imagine that they can just keep on driving. They are still somehow surprised when their cars get stuck next to the highway.
The check engine light can mean a few different things at the same time, but the first thing that it means is that you should pull over. Something is usually wrong when the service engine light goes on. It’s always best to establish what this is before continuing and taking the risk.
Whenever the check engine light goes on, stop and check your engine. You’ll usually be glad that you did.
Overheating
One of the most common things that your check engine light refers to is the fact that your vehicle might be overheating. If this is the case, it’s always in the best interest of your car to pull over to the side of the road. From there, check if your engine has enough water circulating through it.
Fuses
Sometimes a constantly on (or off) check engine light will have nothing to do with your car overheating, but might have a little more to do with a fuse. Fuses can blow for several different reasons – and when they do, anything in your car from the horn to the electric windows or starter could be affected as a result.
Serious Engine Problems
Sometimes the presence of an active check engine light can indicate that you have some serious engine issues that need to be immediately addressed. Where this is the case, an engine could seize up completely when the issue is ignored for long enough. If you don’t see anything that’s obviously wrong with the engine, it could be time to wonder if there’s a major engine fault instead. Where there is, get your car straight to a professional vehicle mechanic!
Dave & Rays Automative Repair Shop in Omaha, NE
Our team has learned one thing: automotive problems are as varied and unique as the customers who bring them to us. Fortunately, our decades of experience in auto service and repair also mean that our skilled network of professionals is ready to accommodate an impressive scope of automotive issues. Contact us today.