Check engine light on?
Have you got a constant glow from your dash board? A little glow in the shape of an engine? Well you have a problem! Bob Mol Motors have all the tools, equipment & expertise to sort out all your engine faults. These lights can come on for literally hundreds of reasons, from a small quick fix to something more major. Don’t risk engine damage ( and your bank balance) get your engine light checked.
It’s usually OK to drive the car if the check engine light is steady. But only if the vehicle’s essential systems such as brakes and lights are operational. Keep a close eye on your car’s dashboard warning lights. The coolant temperature and oil pressure lights, brake warning lights or low oil pressure lights are major and should not be driven. We suggest calling us on (02) 9525 3433 or contact your road service provider, it’s not worth the risk.
How much will it cost you to get it rectified? How long is a piece of string? There are literally hundreds of reasons why the light comes on so we need to asses each vehicle on a case by case basis.
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. This 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. If 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.” You should get the car serviced as soon as possible.
The check engine light illuminates, stays on, and there are performance problems
This means that a vital component of your emission control and engine management system has a serious problem. It usually involves a component or system needed for the vehicle to run at all. In many cases, the vehicle is not safe to drive at all — it could stop or stall out at any moment. It’s best to pull over to a safe place and have the vehicle towed to a repair shop for a thorough inspection.
The check engine light comes on and blinks in a steady pattern while driving
Don’t confuse this steady pulsing of the check engine light (usually one or more flashes per second) with a flicker. The check engine light may stay on steadily or it may flash when the vehicle is accelerated. This is very serious. Your vehicle has a severe failure of the emission control system that is causing the engine to misfire to the point that the catalytic converter is damaged each time the check engine light flashes. It may mean that the catalytic converter is overheating to the point that it will glow red or, in extreme cases, start a fire on the underside of the vehicle. Immediately pull over to a safe place and have your vehicle towed to an automotive diagnostician for repair for Check engine light on.
To book an appointment for us to check the cause of the warning, call us on (02) 9525 3433 or click our CONTACT US page to find out about our drop-off and pick-up service.
