The “Check Engine” or “Service Engine Soon” light suggests that your engine or transmission may need to be repaired or replaced. It denotes a system breakdown affecting the fuel, transmission, ignition, or emissions rather than just a routine maintenance issue.
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Oh, No! I have a lit check engine light!
The “service engine soon” light’s job is to alert the driver when the car’s sensors have found a problem. When we first notice this tiny light on our dashboard, we begin to worry a little about the possible cost of the necessary repair. We immediately assume the worse and worry about receiving a bill in the hundreds of dollars or thousands. It’s true that there can be a serious issue with the engine or one of its parts, but most of the time, the owner of the car can easily fix it.
What it is, what it means, and what to do if the service engine soon light comes on
Dials, gauges, and warning lights abound in modern vehicles, all of which are intended to alert drivers when a system is malfunctioning. The service engine soon light is one of the most crucial warning indicators in any vehicle, yet many motorists are unaware of what it means or what to do if it comes on.
The service engine soon light’s job is to notify drivers when the car’s sensors have discovered a problem of some kind. Although there may be a number of distinct causes, problems with the vehicle’s pollution control system frequently cause these sensors to be activated.
How to Interpret the Service Engine Light
When your car’s ECM detects a potential issue with your engine, the “service engine soon” light will come on. Additionally, as the name implies, it serves as a gentle reminder that it is time to service the engine of your car.
What brings on the service engine soon light?
The Service Engine/Check Engine When there is a problem with the fuel system, ignition, transmission, or emissions, a warning light will soon come on. This indicator does not merely indicate that you require routine maintenance.
What distinguishes a service engine soon indicator from a check engine light?
Many people are unsure of what each of these lights means, and the check engine light and the service engine soon light are frequently confused for one another. We’ll describe how distinct they actually are despite the fact that they appear to be similar.
Authored by: Bradley Hayes, Director of Marketing at Autoscope European Car Repair and Automotive Blogger
Since Karl Benz originally unveiled his Benz Patent Motorwagen, automotive technology has advanced significantly. In fact, the notion that computers are essentially controlling our cars in today’s computer-driven society shouldn’t be shocking. In order to assure the precise right operation of your vehicle’s numerous systems and components, they regulate and track their performance. They even notify the driver when the automobile needs repair or maintenance. While technology hasn’t yet given our cars voices of their own (a la Kitt from Knight Rider), it has made it possible for them to communicate in other ways, such as through a series of backlit symbols that appear in the instrument cluster of your car, such as a “check engine” and a “service engine” light.
What does “engine service” mean right now?
Messages like “Ford Engine Malfunction Service Now” or “Ford Engine Service Now” can be seen on many Ford automobiles. When your vehicle’s onboard diagnostics system notices a problem with the ignition, fuel, emissions, or exhaust systems, this badge will illuminate.
Does AutoZone have an upcoming service engine light?
AutoZone scans check engine lights, right? AutoZone can identify codes from the check engine light, yes. If you’re unsure of why your engine light came on, visit your neighborhood AutoZone so that one of our staff members can use our free Fix Finder service to identify the problem.
For how long should the service engine light be on?
It is still possible to drive your car if the Check Engine light comes on for any reason, but it is only advised to go another 50 to 100 miles before checking your car’s computer for problem codes. You can pinpoint the problem at hand using this technique and deal with it however you see proper.
Depending on the problem that caused the Check Engine light to come on, you could be able to keep driving for a very long time or only a few days. The engine computer has time to reset some sensors after traveling between 50 and 100 miles, which could resolve the issue.
How much does a service engine soon light fix cost?
The price to repair whatever is wrong with your car and turning on the light can differ substantially. According to CarMD’s research of the millions of fixes suggested in the U.S. in 2016 for the most typical check engine light issues, repair costs range from under $20 to approximately $1,200.
Here are the five most typical check engine light issues, along with the fixes and typical repair prices.
If my car indicates service engine soon, can I still drive it?
The service engine soon light indicates that your engine needs servicing and should be done as soon as possible. It doesn’t imply that the engine has malfunctioned or even that a meltdown is about to happen. It does, however, imply that you should schedule a visit with your mechanic as soon as possible to identify the cause of the issue and get the car fixed, if required.
If your service engine soon light illuminates while you are driving, you should stop as soon as you can to assess the condition and do a few quick tests. It’s possible that the issue is as straightforward as a missing or improperly-fitting gas cap because the sensors that activate the service engine soon light are frequently triggered by an issue with the emission control system.
As soon as you are off the road safely, thoroughly inspect the gas cap to make sure it is securely fastened. The emission sensors and the service engine soon light may be activated if the gas cap is not correctly sealed.
You may also experience issues with your most recent gas fill-up, which will turn on the service engine soon light. It is a fantastic spot to start your research if you recently purchased gas and then suddenly noticed that your service engine soon light is on.
Start by inquiring if there have been any new issues with the service station staff. There’s a good likelihood that other vehicles were also impacted if there was water or other pollution in the gas.
Try driving until you exhaust a couple of gallons of gas before topping off the tank with fresh fuel from a different service station if the automobile appears to be operating normally. You should schedule an appointment with your mechanic and have the vehicle checked out straight away if the vehicle’s performance has been affected.
The oxygen sensor, a mechanism that measures the manner in which unburned oxygen is released into the atmosphere, is among other issues that could turn on the service engine soon light. Ignoring a malfunctioning oxygen sensor might cost you hundreds of dollars in damage to your catalytic converter. That is just another justification for having a competent mechanic examine the service engine soon light as soon as feasible.
Having said that, if the service engine soon light is on solid and not flashing, you can generally drive safely while it is on. If your service engine light is on and flashing, you should stop right away, make a roadside assistance contact, and arrange to have your car towed to the shop.
Any dash light that comes on might be unsettling, but one with the term “engine” in the title can be extremely unsettling. However, you can react more correctly and make a wise and informed decision after you are aware of what the service engine light does and what it actually implies.
Will an oil change cause the service engine light to come on?
Your car’s check engine light coming on is the first indication that it needs an oil change. When the oil is too dirty or not flowing sufficiently through the engine, it may turn on.
Is the service engine soon light triggered by low oil?
Yes, on many different car models, a low oil level will result in the service engine soon light appearing on your dashboard. It can also indicate that there are other low fluid levels or other issues with the car. However, you should start with checking the oil level because it is rather simple to do so.
Owner and primary author of MechanicBase is Magnus. He has been a technician for more than ten years, the majority of which he spent honing his skills in sophisticated diagnostics and troubleshooting. Automotive diagnostic technician certified.
My 2013 Astra J SRi Petrol 1600cc keeps entering the limp mode. When this happens, I stop, turn off the engine, walk away for about 10 seconds, and then restart the vehicle. When I go outside again, it comes on again after a few kilometers.
An Altima from 2011 belongs to me. I examined it after the service engine lights illuminated. My code is P0101, which stands for airflow meters. I changed the airflow meter and turned the light back on. About 200 miles into the trip, the light turned back on. In slow traffic, I have observed that the idle is not smooth. I double-checked, and the p0101 code was still present. Why might this be? Thanks.
Hello, I have a 2009 Opel Corsa D 1.4. The car had a major service, and everything was well until the engine light and service light started flashing alternately.
My 2008 Nissan Quest’s check engine light came on after the mechanics completely replaced my exhaust system and determined it was an air sensor. It came back on five minutes after I left the garage, so they replaced the air sensor once more. They reset the code numerous times, but the light continues to come on and stay on.
They don’t appear to be aware of the root cause.
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Regularly maintained Northstar engine from a 1999 Cadillac STS. Plugs were changed around 9 years ago at 90,000 miles along with a tune-up. 115,000 miles as of today. Authentic plug wires. The service engine soon light just turned on. Back when the light initially turned on, I replaced the gas cap over the fire. cap removed. Reapply it and tighten the cap. Light remains on. Suggestions?