A blinking light, or in some cars a red light instead of a yellow or orange light, indicates a problem that needs immediate attention. Either way, you should have the vehicle checked by a mechanic. In late-model cars, a blinking light usually indicates an engine misfire so severe that unburned fuel is being dumped into the exhaust system, where it can quickly damage the catalytic converter, leading to an expensive repair.
If that happens, you should reduce power and have the car or truck looked at as soon as possible. If the light is steady, the problem is not an emergency, but you should schedule an appointment as soon as possible. You might have noticed the gallery of icons on your dashboard when you start your car. We respect your privacy. All email addresses you provide will be used just for sending this story.
By Consumer Reports. Updated March 10, Photo: iStock. Best Car Tires of Best Car Batteries of What the Light Means. More on Car Maintenance. Make Your Car Last , Miles. If the light is a steady glow, that indicates a less urgent problem, but it still should be taken in for diagnostics and service.
Either way, attending to the warning light in a timely manner will prevent any additional damage from occurring to your car. The specific reason your check engine light has come on can only be discovered through the use of special car diagnostic equipment.
Be sure to visit your l ocal Cleveland-area auto repair shop for an inspection to see what's going on with your vehicle. Read More. As the temperature Find Your Local Shop. Categories auto maintenance 54 auto repair 35 money-saving tips 18 car maintenance 16 cleveland mechanic 12 performance 12 car safety 11 brake repair 8 muffler repair 8 car service 6 car parts 5 cleveland auto repair 5 auto repair financing 4 auto upgrades 3 suspension 3 cleveland car service 2 transmission 2 wheel alignment 2 winter car maintenance 2 Cleveland New Year's Eve Activities 1 Cleveland new years eve 1 Warranties 1 car taking longer to start 1 cleveland events 1 oil additives 1 shocks 1 slow start 1 slow-starting vehicle 1 struts 1 tires 1 transmission fluid 1 transmissions 1.
Most Popular Posts. Car AC Not Working? The check engine light illuminates when your vehicle's computer believes there is a problem that could affect — or is affecting — your car's emissions control system. When the light comes on, one or more diagnostic trouble codes are stored in the car's computer. These codes will stay there even if the light goes out. To address a check engine light issue, you or your mechanic can retrieve the codes by using an OBD-II scanner and then troubleshooting to find the problem.
If your light is on, it typically means the car's emissions control system is faulty and the vehicle is polluting the air beyond allowable federal standards. A vehicle in this condition would fail an emissions inspection or smog check.
Don't confuse the check engine light with the maintenance or service light. These lights illuminate when a routine service is due. They are usually triggered by mileage, gallons of gasoline consumed, or some other type of vehicle-use measurement. Not all check engine light warnings are created equal. Here are four common scenarios, and what they mean:. The check engine light comes on only in certain conditions, or flickers.
If the check engine light comes on in the city but goes off on the freeway, then the problem is only happening in city driving conditions. It also might flicker inconsistently. Pay attention to whether or not the vehicle runs or drives any differently when you see the light.
If you notice a difference, drive the car as little as possible and take it to your mechanic. If there's no change in vehicle performance, you can drive home, but have it inspected as soon as possible. In this condition, you run a risk of the vehicle dying or not starting. The check engine light comes on and stays on. If the check engine light is on constantly during driving with no noticeable driving or performance problems, there is a permanent fault in the emission control system. When this happens, the computer that controls the emissions system will usually make it so your car runs only in a few lower gears — this is known as "limp-home mode.
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