Check Engine Light

It is one of the most frustrating lights 

When you see this light illuminated on your dash, it can cause all sorts of thoughts to run through your mind. The reason those thoughts come is that there are numerous issues that will trigger the check engine light. 

Until you get the codes diagnosed you won't know if the problem is serious or if you can drive for a while before having the light checked out.

We at Hartland Auto Service know all the sources for why your check engine light lit up. When you see it on your dash, then either drive to our repair center or give us a call. 

We will be glad to help you diagnose the problem and get it fixed as soon as possible. 

What is the most common reason for a check engine light? 

There are about 10 most common reasons why you are seeing the check engine light lit up as you drive. Here are the parts that may be failing: 

• Catalytic converter
• Oxygen sensor
• Ignition coil and spark plug(s)
• Mass airflow sensor
• Loose fuel cap and tighten or replace
• Evaporative emissions (EVAP) canister purge control valve
• Ignition coil
• Fuel injector(s)
• Thermostat
• Reprogram the powertrain control module (PCM) 

None of these parts are that inexpensive to replace. Some are just cheaper than others. S you can see, the check engine light can be frustrating because these are just the most common sources for that light to be lit up. There are many other sources that may occur at any time that does the same thing. 

How long can you drive with the check engine light on? 

This will depend on what is wrong with your engine. Sometimes, you can drive till you get time to go to a repair shop. Other times, your car or truck may be sent into derate mode and you can only drive 5 mph. 

The best thing to do is not to ignore that light. While the cause may be something simple, it may also be something that will ruin your engine if you keep driving. 

The longer you drive with the light on, the more chance you have of damaging your engine and creating a higher repair bill. 

Check engine light comes on after driving for awhile

The check engine light will come on only when you are driving. The ECU or engine control module monitors the different components of your vehicle when the engine is running. 

When it detects something abnormal, then it illuminates the light and possibly sets an error code. This code will either let the engine run normally or it will cause a derate after you have driven so many miles. 

It all depends on what is wrong with your engine. 

Some additional words 

When you see the check engine light illuminated, it means you have a problem somewhere in your engine system. The best thing to do is call our repair shop, Hartland Auto Service, and let our experts and sophisticated tools solve the problem for you. Call today to avoid more expensive repair work.