What Does Check Engine Light Usually Mean

3 reasons why your volkswagen check engine light is on by product expert posted in tips and tricks vw service on friday july 14th 2017 at 4 13 pm.

What does check engine light usually mean.

However it does not replace a skilled mechanic or routine maintenance. Glowing check engine light does not usually indicate an emergency but one should never ignore it for a longer time. The light could be a minor issue such as a faulty gas cap. Found on the instrument panel of most automobiles it usually bears the legend engine check engine service engine soon maintenance required emmiss maint or a pictogram of an engine and when illuminated it is typically an amber or red color.

A check engine light or malfunction indicator lamp mil is a tell tale that a computerized engine management system uses to indicate a malfunction. The check engine light provides an idea sometimes precise sometimes vague of what s wrong with a car. There are many reasons as to why it s on and they usually aren t a huge problem. Head to an auto parts store and have them run a diagnostic to find the cause of the check.

A blinking light or in some cars a red light instead of a yellow or orange. A steady light means there s no immediate cause for alarm but you should still get it checked out. The on board diagnostics system and engine control unit are in charge of monitoring a bunch of different parameters and if they get a reading that s a little out of whack up pops the check engine light. When your car s check engine light illuminates your dashboard it s usually accompanied by a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach.

If the check engine light is flashing or blinking that usually indicates a misfire or other serious issue that requires prompt repair and should be dealt with quickly at an auto repair shop. Regardless it s easy to find out what the issue is and taking care of it quickly can save you money and prevent further damage down to the road. If the check engine light illuminates it will either blink or remain constantly illuminated depending on the problem.