Your car, truck or van has a number of computers controlling the operation of the engine. One responsibility of the computer system is to perform onboard diagnostic self-tests to make sure your vehicle’s engine is running its best and emitting the least amount of pollutants. As you are driving your car, all the computer systems are working together to precisely adjust how the engine responds to things like speed, the temperature of the engine, the air-fuel mixture, the load, and more. When the light comes on, it’s alerting you to a problem with the engine’s performance and emissions. Don’t worry, though, whether it’s the Check Engine or Service Engine Soon light, the certified auto technicians at Geller’s Automotive in Byram, New Jersey, can diagnose why the light came on and fix the problem.
What causes the Service Engine Soon or Check Engine Light to come on?
This light is letting you know there is a problem with your vehicle’s emissions system. Your vehicle is not running its best and it’s polluting the environment. The nice thing about the Service Engine Soon or Check Engine light is that it will typically detect a minor problem so you can have it fixed before it becomes something major. When the light comes on, you may wonder if you need to have it fixed right away since you may not be noticing anything different with the way your car, truck or van is running. Not every problem that results in a Check Engine light warning provides obvious symptoms like hard starting, rough idling, or stalling. By not dealing with the reason the Check Engine light came on, you risk further damage to your vehicle’s emissions system. We are 100% certain you would much rather deal with a simple repair, like a leaking hose, than have to replace something like an expensive catalytic converter.
Bring your vehicle to Geller’s Automotive in Byram, NJ, if the Check Engine light won’t turn off
More times than not, the Check Engine light is coming on because of a loose or broken gas cap. The easiest way to find out if that’s the cause is to make sure the gas cap is properly tightened and/or replace the gas cap with one designed for your car. Once you do that, you’ll have to drive the vehicle for a few days. As the onboard diagnostic (OBDII) system goes through its self-tests, the light will turn off if the gas cap was the culprit. If you go through these steps and the Check Engine or Service Engine Soon light stays on, schedule an appointment with our auto repair shop in Byram, New Jersey. We can perform computer diagnostic engine testing to determine what is causing the warning light to trigger. Once we know what is creating the problem, our ASE-Certified Technicians can fix it for you.
Remember, delaying a repair can lead to major repairs to components. Contact Geller’s Automotive today to fix what’s causing that pesky Check Engine light to come on.
Check Engine Light FAQs
Can a loose gas cap cause the Check Engine light to come on?
Yes. A loose, damaged, or improperly sealing gas cap can trigger the Check Engine light. Make sure the cap is properly tightened. If the light remains on after the vehicle completes its onboard diagnostic self-tests, Geller’s Automotive can perform computer diagnostic testing to determine the cause.
Can my car have a problem even if it seems to be running normally?
Yes. Not every issue that triggers a Check Engine light causes noticeable symptoms. Your vehicle may seem to drive normally even though its computer has detected a problem with engine performance or emissions. Having the cause diagnosed can help prevent a smaller issue from becoming a more expensive repair.
Why won't my Check Engine light turn off?
If your Check Engine light remains on, the vehicle’s onboard diagnostic system is continuing to detect a problem. Geller’s Automotive can perform computer diagnostic testing to identify the issue and determine what repairs may be needed.
What happens during a Check Engine light diagnostic?
Computer diagnostic testing provides information about the problem detected by your vehicle’s onboard computer system. Geller’s Automotive uses that information as part of the diagnostic process to determine what is causing the warning light and what needs to be repaired.
Can ignoring the Check Engine light damage my vehicle?
It can. Continuing to drive without addressing the problem may allow an issue affecting engine performance or emissions to become more serious. For example, a relatively minor problem can eventually contribute to damage to more expensive components such as the catalytic converter.
