The very last light on the dashboard that anyone likes to see is that little check engine light. It causes hearts to skip a beat when it illuminates. Not to worry however, when that light comes on it doesn’t mean you have to pull over and shut the engine off right away. In fact there is no need to pull over at all; it simply means that you need to check a few things out. This light is simply designed to alert drivers to computer-monitored emissions problems.

Here’s an ultra-simplified version of how the “check engine” light works. Vehicle computers use input signals from sensors to generate control signals for fuel, spark delivery, transmission shifting, and other functions. The car’s computer continuously monitors all input signals that could affect emissions. If any of the monitored signals moves outside the government mandated limits, the computer turns on the check engine light. This light became a standard feature when on-board computers became common in 1981. Since then, this little light has caused a lot of head scratching from technicians to do-it-yourselfers.

The check engine light can mean several things from loose or lost gas caps to more expensive repairs like sensors and catalytic convertors. Simply tightening the gas cap often solves this problem, but keep in mind it may not shut it off immediately however. If your gas cap is missing altogether, it is a good idea to buy a new one; they only cost a few dollars and would save a lot of fuel from simply evaporating. With fuel prices no one wants to waste even a drop of fuel, especially to evaporation.

Being aware of your vehicle’s performance can help you to rule out the more serious conditions that often trigger the check engine light. For instance if your vehicle loses power or has power surges this would indicate either a spark plug misfiring or a malfunctioning mass air flow sensor. Both of these affect the power of the vehicle as well as the fuel mileage. The spark plugs can be replaced on your own for around $10 or you can pay a technician about $300 to fix them. The mass air sensor can be fixed for approximately $375.

Spark plugs that aren’t firing the engine properly can cause a far more serious engine problem over time affecting the catalytic converter. This prize piece of equipment converts harmful gases left over from combustion to less harmful emissions. They generally don’t fail unless a related part like the spark plugs fail first. This is one set of failures that regular maintenance can help to prevent. An ounce of prevention can save you about $2000 in this particular instance because that is what a new catalytic converter costs.

All in all, the check engine light isn’t always an indicator of a really bad situation, it can be simple. It doesn’t hurt that it causes you to pause; it’s good to be on top of what is going on with your vehicles. You expect your vehicles to take care of you and carry you from one destination to the next without failure. That is a pretty unrealistic expectation however, if you are unwilling to keep up preventative maintenance schedules. Your local auto repair center in Mesa and Tempe is there to help you take better care of your car so it can take better care of you. After all it is no fun to be sitting alongside the road wishing you could reach the next gas station. This is one lesson everyone generally learns the first time around. Take care of your car today and it will get you where you want to go tomorrow and all the days following.