Is it OK to drive with the Check Engine Light “On”?
Doral's Auto Repair • January 14, 2024
The dreaded “check engine light” has been introduced to alert drivers that something is not right with the car. But is it ok to drive around with the light “on”? The answer is twofold.
- Is the check engine light flashing? If it is, you should not drive the vehicle at all. Park it where it’s safe to do so, turn off the engine, and have the car towed to a repair shop.
- If the check engine light is not flashing and the car drives normally, there seem to be no issues with the engine, no misfires, then it’s usually ok to drive home, and then take it to a repair shop.
What we discourage is driving for prolonged time with the Check Engine Light “on”, even if the car drives fine – we have heard of people driving for months(!) with the check engine light on – this is not a good idea. That’s because without a visit to a mechanic, you do not know if the cause of the check engine light is something innocuous, like the gas cap that does not hold the pressure, or is it something serious that over time will result in further damage to the car. In extreme cases, driving around with the check engine light “on” can result in damaged catalytic converter – and that’s a very expensive repair.
So if your car’s computer illuminated the check engine light, call your trusted mechanic and get the problem diagnosed and fixed as soon as possible.
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The post Engine Mount Replacement in San Leandro, CA appeared first on Doral's Auto Repair.
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The post Transmission Fluid Change in San Leandro, CA appeared first on Doral's Auto Repair.
J.D. Power recently released its 2024 Vehicle Dependability Study. It is based on responses from owners of vehicles manufactured in 2021 – the vehicles were three years old at the time of the study.
The post J.D. Power 2024 Vehicle Dependability Study – Cars Are Getting Worse appeared first on Doral's Auto Repair.
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The post Acura A1 Service or B2 Service – What Do These Numbers Mean? appeared first on Doral's Auto Repair.
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The dreaded “check engine light” has been introduced to alert drivers that something is not right with the car. But is it ok to drive around with the light “on”? The answer is twofold.
Is the check engine light flashing? If it is, you should not drive the vehicle at all. Park it where it’s safe to do so, turn off the engine, and have the car towed to a repair shop.
If the check engine light is not flashing and the car drives normally, there seem to be no issues with the engine, no misfires, then it’s usually ok to drive home, and then take it to a repair shop.
The post Is it OK to drive with the Check Engine Light “On”? appeared first on Doral's Auto Repair.
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