What To Do When Your Check Engine Light Goes On: Top 5 Things to Check First

You never know when that dreaded check engine light will come on. You unlock your car, get into the driver’s seat, start the engine, and…it’s brightly illuminated, like a cryptic warning sign in a language you can’t read. Before you panic, there’s one thing you can do: troubleshoot. Keep reading to learn five things to check before taking your vehicle to a mechanic or attempting to fix it yourself.

Convenient Car Manuels on Your Phone

Have you ever wished that you had a repair manual handy while troubleshooting vehicle problems? Maybe your original owner’s manual is buried somewhere or you lost it a long time ago. Don’t worry: It happens to the best of us. Thankfully, you can access several car repair manuals online. From oil change instructions to wiring diagrams for a 1969 Chevy, you can find virtually any guide you need. Best of all, you can access these manuals from your laptop, desktop, or mobile device. 

Check the Battery and Electrical Connections

Check engine light problems often start with the battery. Loose connections or dirty terminals are common culprits. Pop the hood and inspect the battery terminals, confirming that they’re clean and free of debris. Tighten any unsecured connections and close the hood. 

Examine the Gas Cap

If you’re in a hurry while filling your tank, you may neglect to close the gas cap completely. Unfortunately, this can also prompt that pesky check engine light to illuminate. Open your fuel food and test the gas cap to ensure it’s screwed on tightly. 

Look at Your Gauges

Fortunately, the check engine light isn’t so always so cryptic. Survey your dashboard and examine the fuel, oil pressure, and temperature gauges. You’ll want to confirm that your vehicle has enough gas, the oil pressure’s within normal limits, and the engine isn’t overheating. Filling up your tank is an easy fix, but anything else requires more troubleshooting or intervention. 

Inspect Your Spark Plugs

Faulty spark plugs can cause your engine to misfire. Because even minor misfires could harm your engine, your vehicle’s computer prompts the check engine light to come on when it detects them. Take out your spark plugs and inspect them for wear or damage. If you notice any bad ones, replace them immediately. 

Test the O2 Sensors

A proper air/fuel mixture is key to ensuring that your engine runs at peak performance. Your vehicle’s oxygen sensors track oxygen content in its exhaust to monitor fuel efficiency. Faulty sensors could eventually lead to poor fuel economy, higher emissions, and even engine damage. An illuminated check engine light may indicate an O2 sensor problem, if you have an OBD-II scanner, you can use it to test the 

DIY Parts and Supplies

Although mysterious as it may sometimes seem, the check engine light is a warning sign. It could indicate anything from minor issues to major problems. You can find what you need at your preferred auto parts and accessories store: a new gas cap, spark plugs, battery testers, OBD-II code readers, and more. Locate the exact parts for your vehicle with this handy VIN decoder.