Many Lincoln drivers have had their check engine light come on. It’s an amber colored light that shows on your dashboard. What is the purpose for the check engine light? Most of your vehicle engine functions are controlled by a computer, not surprisingly, called an engine control computer or ECM. The computer is able to adjust many engine parameters for environmental conditions, engine condition and even the way you drive in Lincoln. In order to make these adjustments, the vehicle computer relies on a network of sensors to provide data. The computer knows the proper operating range for each sensor. When a sensor reading is out of range the computer runs some tests and may turn on the Check Engine Light.
If your vehicle check engine light is flashing, that means that something is wrong that could cause severe damage to the catalytic converter or other components. Drive the vehicle as little as possible and get that taken care of right away. If your check engine light is flashing, you shouldn’t drive at highway speeds, tow or haul heavy loads.
If the light is on steady and not flashing it is still safe to drive temporary but pay attention for anything abnormal in the way the vehicle runs. In newer vehicles it could be just a simple as your gas cap not being screwed on tight enough (or a worn gas cap), causing the vehicle to fail the self-diagnostic evaporative emission test. All you need to do is go to your gas cap and verify that it is tight. If that was the problem, the light will turn off and everything will be fine within one or two days.
Resist the temptation to have someone “clear” the codes to turn off your vehicle check engine light. This erases important diagnostic information that your Custom Automotive Care technician needs to diagnose the underlying problem for the check engine light – and any other pending problems that may be stored in the vehicle computer.
Custom Automotive Care Tech Question:
I’m Alex. My Check Engine Light came on in my vehicle. I’ve tried several things to make it go off but nothing has worked. What should I do?
Custom Automotive Care Answer:
Like Alex, most of us in Lincoln have experienced a check engine light coming on suddenly. We’re frustrated because we don’t know why.
Of course that’s perfectly understandable: There are hundreds of reasons for the check engine light to come on – and there’s only one light. Alex said she tried several things to get the light to go off – but it didn’t work. Her goal was to get the light to turn off. I would suggest that the goal should be to find out what caused the light to come on in the first place – and fix it. You can search the internet and find millions sites with tricks to get your vehicle check engine light to turn off. But what good does that do – the internet can’t fix your problem and without expensive diagnostic equipment it’s a guessing game of replacing parts. Whatever caused the light to come on is still wrong. Not getting to the bottom of the problem can lead to other problems for drivers in Lincoln – some minor and some more serious.
If the problem is still there – you still see the light – bring your vehicle in so your friendly and knowledgeable pros at Custom Automotive Care can get you started down the road of properly diagnosing the problem and getting it repaired.
Give us a call
Custom Automotive Care
4660 Cornhusker Highway
Lincoln, NE 68504
Phone: 402-467-3307