While a professional-grade OBD-II (also known as an OBD2) scanner might cost you hundreds of dollars, a wide range of perfectly good consumer models can be found online from between $20 and $100. To shut off the warning light, and to know exactly what's wrong with your vehicle, you need a scanner. Do that, and the warning light will turn off. The scanner also allows you to clear the vehicle's internal code, which is what triggered the check-engine light. You plug an OBD-II scanner tool into it and, in most cases, out pops a code that tells you what the problem is. An OBD-II port might sound like something R2-D2 would fall in love with and marry, but in reality it's a simple diagnostic connection found on every post-1996 car and truck. You can find out what's ailing your engine through the vehicle's OBD-II port. That's because every car built from the 1996 model year onward speaks the same basic language-and deciphering it takes far less time and money than you'd imagine. This almost always indicates a serious problem has occurred, and severe damage could be done by continuing to drive the car.Īssuming your instrument cluster is showing the more common solid amber or yellow check-engine warning, there's an easy-to-use tool that can help you understand what's going on long before you visit a repair shop or dealership.

In the rare instance that the warning light starts flashing, however, pull over and stop the car.

Sometimes, something as simple as a loose gas cap can be the culprit. There is a good chance it could be a minor problem, but, as we've already noted, it's not smart to ignore the problem until the car does have noticeable issues.

If the light is a steady orange or yellow and there is no perceptible change in how the car is driving, you don't need to stop the vehicle immediately.

If you're positive that it's a check-engine warning light staring back at you from the gauge cluster, there are some key things to remember. Granted, you'd look a little funny, but it wouldn't mean a root canal was automatically on the agenda.

Imagine if your teeth started glowing every six months when a cleaning is due.

This type of light is your car telling you that some routine work is due, such as an oil or air-filter change. If it's a maintenance-related warning light, then you can relax, at least temporarily.

How and Why You Should Check Transmission Fluid.

Don't Ignore That Low-Tire-Pressure Warning Light.

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