The Check Engine Light (CEL)—often a yellow or orange icon shaped like an engine—is the visual interface for your car’s Onboard Diagnostics (OBD-II) system. While many drivers fear it, the light is actually a helpful emissions monitoring tool. It illuminates when the car’s computer (PCM) detects that a component is causing the vehicle to exceed its allowable emissions limits or if a sensor is providing data that doesn't make sense. Whether it stays solid or begins to blink, it is your car "emailing" you that it has identified a fault that requires professional interpretation.
While a Check Engine Light can come on for a number of reasons, in most cases it is due to one of the following issues:
A top-rated mobile mechanic will come to your home or office to identify the source and cause of the illuminated Check Engine Light, and then check other system components as specific symptoms and issues are identified. After the inspection, the mechanic will provide a detailed report that describes the diagnosis, along with the scope and cost of the necessary repairs.
When the Check Engine Light is on, your car’s monitoring system will have “fault codes” that indicate the nature of the problem. Your car may have one or more problems and hence there can be multiple codes. The mechanic will read the codes using a scanner, interpret the codes, and provide a diagnosis. If you approve the repair estimate, they will replace the faulty part(s), clear the memory of any fault codes, turn the Check Engine Light off, and let you drive the car for a few days to see if the light comes back on or not. Please note: It may take several days of driving the car for the monitoring system to verify that the repair has fixed all the problems. If the monitoring system fails any of its internal tests, it will turn the light back on. This means that the car has more problems that were not evident during the first evaluation. The mechanic will have to perform further diagnosis and create new repair estimates for resolving the problems found. In some rare cases, multiple visits may be required to diagnose and resolve the stubborn Check Engine Light issues.
A blinking Check Engine Light indicates a critical issue, whereas a solid light reflects a non-emergency situation. Once you rule out a loose petrol cap, it’s imperative a mechanic diagnoses the issue as soon as possible.