We at Mike's Auto Service realize your car is an investment and we want to keep you safe and your vehicle running for many miles. We provide our ASE Certified Technicians the tools and equipment to diagnose your vehicle as accurately as possible.
We hope the information and examples contained in this article will help you understand the significance of the check engine light so you can make an informed decision regarding the repair of your vehicle.
Check Engine LightYour vehicle is equipped with a sophisticate On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) system. This is what has turned on your Check Engine Light, or MIL (Malfunction Indicator Lamp).
Our technicians at Mike's Auto Service are well equipped and trained, so that in most cases, they will be able to diagnose and repair problems quickly and accurately. However, there may be more than one problem present, even though only one "code" appears in your computer.
The OBD system performs a series of ongoing "self-tests" to determine whether all systems are working as designed. Once a failure occurs, subsequent tests are temporarily turned off. This means that once we fix the problem that caused the original code to set, we may discover other problems that could not be detected until the first problem was solved. This is especially likely if you have been driving with the Check Engine LIght (MIL) on for more than a few days.
Some of the OBD self-tests require certain specific conditions to occur before they can be run. Some, for example, may require that the engine not be started for at least eight hours since the last trip, and that when it is started, the outside temperature must be warmer than 15F. Others require that the fuel tank be between one-half and three-quarters full. Most require that the vehicle be driven for several minutes at a steady speed of more than 50 mph. There are many other requirements for each self-test, and all must be met before those tests will be run. Additionally, some tests must be run more than once before they will register a failure.
When it's not practical for us to keep your car and drive it so extensively we must rely on you to do your normal driving and if the MIL illuminates, to being the vehicle back for further diagnostics. (Each of the OBD self-test will run eventually during normal driving.)
When you pick your car up after it has been repaired, your receipt will include the specific codes present in your computer at this time. That way, you can have confidence that any future problems are not related to the same cause.
Some Commonly Asked Questions...My check engine light is on can't you just turn it off?
Why does it take so long to find what is wrong with my car?
In a word, you want a diagnosis. You want your technician to listen to your description of the problem, run some tests, make some checks, test drive, announce a prognosis and follow it with a cure.
While it is true that today's vehicles are equipped with computers, digital dashboards, oxygen sensors and more, there is still a lot of old fashioned patience that goes into repairing a car. And to a large extent, a timely diagnosis starts with the motorist.
Is it important, when checking-in your vehicle for repair, to take the time to explain to the service writer the vehicle symptoms. Sometimes just a few extra minutes to communicate the full extent of the problem can save a lot of time on the part of the technician.
For example, if you bring your car in because of a recurring problem tell the service advisor what previously was done to correct the problem. Just as it's helpful for your doctor to know your full medical history, previous vehicle repair information will assist the technician to make an accurate diagnosis.
A difficult situation for you the customer and for the technician is an intermittent failure. That's when a problem unpredictably comes and goes. These are difficult problems to pin point and to identify the correct repair takes time and skill. A history of previous repairs can be useful when diagnosing an intermittent failure. Mike's Auto Service does maintain a complete record of repair and service for each vehicle.
Finally, it's important to remember that cars are a lot like people. The flu, left untreated can lead to something more serious. One needed repair, gone unchecked, can lead to another, often larger and perhaps more expensive problem. So don't be impatient if your tech makes a diagnosis, then digs a little deeper. If he uncovers a second problem, and recommends a separate repair, be grateful. Remember a responsible repair shop has one goal: to fix it right the first time.
