There’s usually a right way and a wrong way to do almost everything. And when the situation in question involves your car’s check engine light, there are definitely some wrong steps you don’t want to take. Gulf Breeze Automotive has more helpful information for you.
Triage What’s Going On
Very often when the check engine light comes on and it’s something serious, there have been some hints along the way. Have you seen other warning lights before the check engine light? If you’ve noticed anything different or odd, that can help you to determine why you’re seeing the check engine light now. For instance, if you’ve noticed that the car is shifting roughly for a while, and now the check engine light is on, that can be a sign that the problem is in the transmission and it’s really time to get that situation addressed.
Think about Anything You Might Have Done Recently
But the check engine light isn’t always a scary sign that something horrible is happening right now. Sometimes it means that there is something small happening that needs to be addressed so that it doesn’t become a big issue later. One example of this is the gas cap. If you’ve recently gotten gas and you didn’t fully secure the gas cap, that can trigger the check engine light. Eventually, this can cause problems for the engine, but it’s not something that is going to cause massive engine failure right now. That’s why it can help to think about anything you’ve done recently that’s different, even if it’s something routine like getting gas.
Stay Away from Denial
The worst possible move you could make is to do nothing at all. The check engine light doesn’t pop onto the dashboard for no reason at all. The issue is likely to be a small one, but if you give in to denial and you try to ignore that little light, the problem will become much larger and that can happen quickly. Even though it’s scary, you really do need to have someone take a look at your car if you’re seeing the check engine light at all.
Don’t let your fear about what the check engine light might mean keep you away from the help you need. Call us today at Gulf Breeze Automotive in Gulf Breeze, FL. We’ll find out what is causing the light to come on and give you the information you need to protect your car’s engine.