Finding a qualified and trustworthy repair shop in Sacramento, CA to help with your check engine light near me can be a real challenge. There are so many reasons for the light to engage that it is easy to get frustrated. You never really know if it related to a strange sound you may have heard months ago or if something happened when you let your friend borrow your car the other day.
Whatever the reason, dealing with a check engine light doesn’t have to be the end of the world. The important thing is to pull over as soon as possible and do a quick search for a “mechanic near me” on your mobile so you can get some help. You need to get off the road and into a safe and secure space to park your car. Unless you are a qualified mechanic, you probably will not know what is happening without visiting a repair shop.
What is the Check Engine Light?
The check engine light illuminates on your dashboard when your vehicle’s computer indicates something is wrong. It can be a minor issue like a bad O2 sensor or something more serious. This light is standard on all vehicles after 1996 under a protocol called OBD-II in an effort to make all malfunction indicator lights the same. This is the list of diagnostic trouble codes that help auto repair near me shops determine what caused the problem and what possible maintenance may be required.
Typically, your check engine light will stay on until it has been dealt with by a professional, otherwise known as “clearing the code.” Until then, you’ll have a constant reminder that it is time to take your car to a mechanic near me. Unfortunately, some people choose to ignore this warning, which almost always ends in more costly repairs.
Solid V. Flashing Check Engine Light
Dealing with a check engine light near me doesn’t have to be a hassle. When the indicator light does come on, it is usually solid or flashing. A solid check engine light is cause to be concerned but usually doesn’t mean a problem that requires immediate attention. It can be something as insignificant as a loose gas gap or a slipping belt. It means you need to find an auto mechanic near me to plug in their code reader and diagnose what the problem is for your car.
A flashing check engine light is more of an immediate problem. It means you need to quickly pull over your car and turn it off, or you will risk more damage to the vehicle and potentially increase the danger to you and your passengers. You need to get your car towed to a qualified repair shop like A Auto Care in Sacramento, CA. This way, their expert team of technicians can safely deal with what is causing the light to come on.
What Causes the Check Engine Light to Turn On?
There are a wide variety of reasons for your check engine light near me to suddenly turn on while you’re driving around the beautiful Sacramento highways. Your car’s internal onboard diagnostic system is detecting some sort of problem with the vehicle’s powertrain that could increase tailpipe emissions. Your powertrain is related to your car’s engine, transmission, and associated components.
A simple reason for your check engine light to engage is if your gas cap is not screwed on correctly or is faulty. This could potentially allow more fuel vapors to escape the tank and bleed out into the atmosphere. Other times there could be an issue with your transmission that is causing slippage or poor driving capability. The point is, the only way to know for sure is to have a professional mechanic take a look at the diagnostic code.
When you are driving around sunny California, you cannot necessarily look into your engine to see what control module monitoring the operations has gone wrong or which sensor has triggered. Most modern vehicles have a lot of emissions equipment that can set off the check ending light, including the exhaust gas recirculation system, the catalytic converter, the evaporative emissions system, and more. Bringing your car to a qualified auto shop is the best way to fix a check engine light near me after it has turned on.
Should You Keep Driving with a Check Engine Light Still On?
If your check engine light is flashing, you absolutely need to pull over and turn your car completely off. That flashing status means an immediate issue could pose a risk to you, your passengers, and the other drivers around Sacramento.
If the check engine light is solid and you do not notice anything usual, it is probably safe to drive your vehicle to a secure location like a trusted mechanic near me, where it can be properly diagnosed and repaired.
If any secondary lights are going off at the same time as your check engine light, you should slow down to a low speed and make your way to a safe location at a steady pace.
In all these cases, you will need a trustworthy and qualified service technician to diagnose what exactly is causing your check engine light near me to turn on. That is where the experts at A Auto Care can help out. They provide a fully equipped and professional repair shop with advanced tools to diagnose your car. They will be able to answer your questions and offer solutions for possible maintenance and repairs you may need to get your vehicle back on the road.
The best way to avoid having your check engine light come on is by making sure your vehicle is on a regular maintenance schedule. A Auto Care can help you set up an easy-to-understand schedule in line with your vehicle’s manufacturer as a proactive measure to prevent any future car troubles. Reach out today through their contact form to set up your next appointment!