CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MAINTENANCE

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SERVICE

 

Our FREE “Check Engine Light Service” is one of our most popular free services we do here at Burbank Auto Doctor.

We know your time is valuable so we can usually diagnose your car and tell you what the problem is within 10 minutes of the time you show up at our service center, and you don’t even need an appointment.

Most auto dealer’s service departments around Burbank will diagnose the problem for about $75.00 to $100. “Provided You Have An Appointment.” Even then you could find yourself waiting up to an hour or more just to find out what’s going on with your car!

If you’re like most drivers, you will be driving along and you will glance down at your dash occasionally like everyone does… But this time something’s different, an immediate feeling of dread comes over you! When you first notice your car’s “Check Engine” light has just came on. Questions start racing through your mind as a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach comes over you.

First, don’t panic, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be a costly problem. Here at Burbank Auto Doctor about half the time it’s something simple like a leaky or loose gas cap. Sometimes it’s something more serious like a bad catalytic converter. But no matter what it is, we’ll quickly diagnose the problem and let you know what it is and get you on your way as soon as possible.

It is important that you take the time to visit a qualified auto mechanic that is trained and certified in diagnosing and servicing such problems as soon as possible. After all, you really don’t want to risk a costly breakdown or damage to your car just because you didn’t look into why you’re check engine light came on.

So at your earliest possible convenience visit us at Burbank Auto Doctor to locate the malfunction and get the light turned off.

Don’t confuse the “service required” light on the gauge cluster for the Check Engine light. These warning indicators are not related and have totally different meanings. The service required light simply means your automobile is due for a new air filter, tuneup or oil change, or some other routine maintenance. It is not the indicator of trouble that the Check Engine light is.

Today ‘Check Engine’ lights come in a few different colors depending on the make and model of your automobile. However, if the light begins to flash this indicates a more serious and urgent problem. One possible problem may be an engine misfire, which left unaddressed can quickly overheat your catalytic converter. Your automobiles catalytic converter operates at a very high temperature to cut emissions and can pose a serious fire hazard if left unaddressed.

 

What does the CHECK ENGINE LIGHT usually mean?

There are hundreds of codes that could trigger your CHECK ENGINE LIGHT for dozens of reasons each. Even the most common reasons can have many possible causes. Some top CHECK ENGINE LIGHT codes are:

> Problem with the Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor or circuit.
> System Running Too Lean. An oxygen sensor detected a lean condition (too much oxygen in the exhaust).
> System Running Too Rich: The oxygen sensor detected a rich condition (or a too-high fuel to oxygen ratio).
> Cylinder Misfire: A P0300 series of codes indicates a random or multiple misfire in your engine.
> Knock Sensor Circuit Malfunction
> Insufficient EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) Flow
> Catalyst System Efficiency below Threshold

 

Don’t Ignore your Check Engine light

So, your Check Engine light has just came on and it’s steady rather than flashing, what do you do? The most obvious answer is, of course, to get the engine checked as soon as possible! So many people do nothing because they don’t understand the risk, or maybe they’re just fearing an expensive repair bill.

For most of you reading this in Burbank, the real motivation is getting the light turned off so you can pass California’s smog inspection. Your inspection is a good motivator for dealing with the problem. If the light is lit, there’s a good chance the car is releasing excess pollutants or consuming too much gas.

Surveys show that 10% of all cars on the road today have a check engine light on, and about half of these drivers have been driving around with the light on for more than 3 months!

•Top reasons car owners have put off repairs include: lack of money (65%), lack of time (34%), didn’t think it was serious (28%) and afraid to find out what the problem was (12%).
Check Engine light system is primarily designed to continuously monitor a car’s emissions system over the life of the car. But it’s important to note, the engine and the emission control system are so interlinked that the health of the emission control system is a good indication of the general health of the car’s engine.

The Auto Club of Southern California’s chief automotive engineer says that while some people freak out when they see the Check Engine light, “others just put a piece of black tape over it and keep driving.” Its important to promptly address problems indicated by the light. Ignoring them could lead to larger, more costly problems later!