Check Engine Light
Your check engine light means the computer saw something outside its normal range. Sometimes it’s simple, like a gas cap. Sometimes it’s a misfire, an emissions fault, or a sensor problem that gets worse if you wait.
Symptoms
- Solid check engine light, and the car still drives normally
- Flashing check engine light (often a misfire)
- Rough idle, hesitation, or less power
- Worse fuel economy, or a new smell from the exhaust
- Light came on after filling up or after a recent repair
Common causes
- Loose or failed gas cap (evaporative emissions)
- Oxygen sensor or catalytic converter efficiency codes
- Ignition misfire - coils, plugs, or injectors
- Mass airflow problems or intake leaks
- Transmission or another system that asked for a warning
Can I keep driving with the check engine light on?
- If the light is steady and the car feels normal, you can usually drive carefully to the shop soon. Don’t leave it for weeks.
- If the light is flashing, that often means an active misfire that can damage the catalytic converter. Drive gently and get it checked as soon as you can.
- If the light is on with hard shaking, overheating, or an oil-pressure warning, stop driving and call us.
What happens next
- Call or text and tell us if the light is steady or flashing, and what else you’ve noticed.
- We scan the car, check live data, and find the fault behind the code before we talk about parts.
- We’ll show you what we found and explain what needs attention now and what can wait.