When you see the check engine light on, it can mean a variety of things. It is one of the car's main diagnostic lights that appears. Will it damage your car if you keep driving with the lights on? Let's find out.
Figure Out the Problem ASAP
This is one of the most obvious things to do when the light is on. Once you've figured out what is the problem is, you can determine from there if the car is safe to drive. Sometimes, it can be something as simple as low oil pressure or the engine overheating. In that case, you can fix the problems yourself and the light will most likely go away.
Keep in mind that some cars have a red light, which means stop using the car, and some have a yellow light, which means investigating the cause.
Don't Drive Fast
If the engine check light is on, the worst thing you can do is drive at higher speeds. Instead, go slower and take it easy on your engine. If you are carrying a load, make sure that the load is as light as possible. Until you know the problem that is causing the engine light to go on, do this to ensure you won't do any more damage.
Is the Gas Cap On?
Sometimes, we may forget to put the gas cap back on because our minds are elsewhere. When the gas cap is off, the check engine light will come on. So, of course, you'll close the gas cap correctly. But you may need to do several engine restarts to get rid of the check engine light.
If this method doesn't work, you can always bring it into an auto shop and a mechanic can see if there are issues with the gas tank. Otherwise, remember to put on the gas cap so that the light doesn't go on again!
If you need engine repair, we invite you to bring your vehicle to RM Automotive today!