Why Your Check Engine Light Might Be On

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Why Your Check Engine Light Might Be On
By - https//www.hinckleyautomotive.com/
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• Driving can sometimes be a soothing experience,
  but as soon as the check engine light comes on
  the stress meter starts to increase. The dreaded
  feeling of uncertainty, not knowing if there is
  something horribly wrong with your car. If you
  find yourself in this particular unpleasant
  situation we have some good news for you. The
  check engine light doesnt always signify that is
  something drastically wrong with your car. The
  bad news is that there could be something very
  wrong with your car. Fear not though well break
  this down.

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Why Is My Check Engine Light On?

• Your check engine light can turn on for various
  reasons. One example, something as small as a
  loose gas cap you forgot to tighten can trigger
  the warning light. A major issue that could turn
  on the light would be failed internal engine
  components. To rid yourself of uncertainty its
  best to have an expert at an auto repair shop
  diagnose the issue.

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• The Check Engine Light More Complicated Than You
  Think
• The reasons your check engine light is on right
  now are countless. Your cars computer will
  switch this warning on whenever it detects a
  problem with the power train, which are engine,
  transmission, and related components, that could
  increase tailpipe emissions.

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• For example, something such as the loose gas cap
  we had mentioned before, would allow fuel vapors
  to escape into the atmosphere and trigger the
  check engine light. Same as an internal engine
  issue that causes a misfire, and releases
  increased hydrocarbon emission, could also turn
  on the warning light. What makes this even more
  complicated is because each car is different,
  what triggers the light can vary by model, make,
  and year.
• To put it bluntly, there really isnt a way to
  say exactly why your check engine light is on
  without performing some diagnostic work.

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• When the check engine light comes on, your cars
  control module or computer stores a corresponding
  diagnostic trouble code, or DTC, in its memory. A
  professional mechanic at an auto repair facility
  can use a code reader or scan tool to retrieve
  that code, and use it as a starting point to
  perform further troubleshooting.
• What we can tell you is that a check engine light
  comes on for problems related to the power train.
  If your anti lock braking system had issues it
  would trigger the ABS light instead of the check
  engine light.

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• Nowadays because various parts of a car are
  closely interrelated, in rare cases, a problem
  within one subsystem, like the ABS example we
  gave, can trigger warnings in another subsystem
  such as the power train. For the most part, the
  check engine light means there is a problem
  within the power train or its related components.

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• What to Do if Your Check Engine Light is on
• You wont know what the check engine light truly
  means until you have your car checked by a
  professional at an auto repair shop. The warning
  could indicate something harmless and simple or
  something serious that could further damage your
  car.
• With that in mind, you dont want to take any
  chances. If your check engine light is on, have a
  professional at an auto repair shop diagnose and
  repair the issue right away.