CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT

November 20, 2024

The Light No Driver wants to see

You've probably had your Check Engine Light go on. Then it goes off, and you figure, whatever the problem was, it's gone now, and I don't have to worry about it. The problem may have gone away, but it may not have.

Your vehicle likely has one of these warning lights on the instrument panel: an amber light that looks like an engine or reads "Check Engine" or "Service Vehicle Soon." If that light comes on and stays on, it usually means something needs to be fixed but is not urgently in need of service. (Now, if it's blinking, that's another story we'll deal with in a minute.)

Sometimes, when it comes on and stays steadily lit, the problem will go away, and the light will go out. Sometimes, it will remain on until you get the issue fixed. Either way, the engine's computer will store a code that can provide clues to what's not working—or wasn't—the way it's supposed to.

If you are dying to know what that code is, you can buy a little code reader or take your vehicle to an auto parts store, and they'll read it. The problem is that the code offers so many options that you probably will only know what those codes mean if you are a trained technician.

So, if you want to be sure, take it to your vehicle repair facility and have them check it. Technicians are trained to decipher the codes and, using their experience and other diagnostic equipment, can get to the root of the problem and fix it.

As we mentioned, if the Check Engine light comes on and blinks, it means a more severe engine malfunction that can damage expensive components. Having that checked by a professional as soon as possible is important.

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Light's Out! Trouble Ahead (Exterior Light Bulb Service)

By chidi • March 30, 2025

Whether or not your exterior light bulbs are all working correctly is not at the top of your list when you think about your vehicle. But those exterior lights are more important than you think, and they're vital to your safety and that of other drivers near you. Headlights are important. Not only do they help you see safely down the road at night, but they also help oncoming drivers know that the vehicle they're approaching is not a motorcycle. Both headlights should be working correctly and aimed so that they don't blind other drivers. Taillights are also crucial for a few reasons. They inform drivers of your intentions (such as changing lanes, turning, or stopping). Therefore, the bulbs in the back must be in working order for maximum safety, and the same applies to the front turn signal lights. They alert oncoming drivers to your lane changes or turns (if you use your turn signals!). Some side mirrors also contain turn signal bulbs. There are a few other essential bulbs. You may not care about the ones that illuminate your rear license plate, for example. However, they are there to assist public safety forces in identifying your vehicle. In fact, in many municipalities, you can be pulled over and ticketed if ANY of the standard lights are burned out. So, not only does having all your exterior lights working improve your vehicle's safety, but it may also keep you from getting a ticket. Many newer vehicles have a light on the instrument panel that will go on if onboard computers detect voltage problems in any of your vehicle's bulb circuits. Sometimes, it can be hard to figure out which light may not be working since there are so many. Sometimes, it's simply a matter of replacing a bulb, but it may be an electrical problem causing the problem. Stay legal and safe by having your service repair facility diagnose and fix a non-working light. It's a bright idea.