As vehicle owners, we all know that sinking feeling when you see that your check engine light comes on. It could be a simple and easy fix, but our minds race, especially if we have no idea of what the issue could be. Check engine lights coming on in regular consumer cars can be stressful enough. But with expensive European supercars and luxury vehicles, it can be much worse and cost a lot more. To try and help you deal with the check engine light coming on, and know exactly what to do when it does, we have put together this blog post to try and give you a bit of peace of mind.
What does your check engine light look like?
Before you can do anything about your check engine light going on, you must know what it looks like and where you can find it. The check engine light is obviously located on the instrument panels of most vehicles and usually looks like a bright yellow or orange motor. There are a few things to distinguish as to what a check engine light means.
Is your check engine light flashing?
If your check engine light flashes, this is a clear indication of a serious issue with most vehicles. If you don’t address the issue immediately, whatever issue you have with your vehicle could very likely compound and become much worse. A repair job could double in price if you ignore a flashing check engine light. When your check engine light flashes, take your vehicle to an auto repair shop as soon as possible.
Does your check engine light come on and stay on?
Today’s vehicles have a computer system that uses On-Board Diagnostics Generation 2 (OBD 2) that detects a problem. Cars manufactured after 1994 feature this diagnostic to alert the driver an issue before it becomes dangerous, so they can address it before the vehicle becomes unsafe to drive. If a check engine light goes on and comes off, this still shouldn’t be ignored – but the problem might not be as bad as if the light comes on and stays on.
If your check engine light comes on and stays on, the problem could be a number of different things. The problem with your vehicle could be as simple and easily fixed as your gas cap not being tightened properly enough. The light could come on and stay on if the emissions from the fuel system or engine tailpipe on your vehicle aren’t up to standards. If this happens, you probably won’t cause any damage to your vehicle, but you should still get your vehicle diagnosed as soon as possible in order to determine what the issue is.
Addressing the Check Engine Light in Your European Supercar
If the check engine light comes on and stays on, or worse, continuously flashes in most vehicles, this must be addressed as soon as possible. This is even truer when it comes to significant investments that are European supercars and luxury vehicles. Due to the prestigious nature of these vehicles, your vehicle needs specialized attention that your everyday auto shops don’t have. If you need your European vehicle diagnosed for a check engine light, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with Otto’s European today.