![]() Sometimes, the check engine light will illuminate at the same time the car enters what’s called a "limp home" mode. In some extreme cases, the car’s computer may reduce power for you as it tries to limit the risk of damage. “The customer is really, in the long run, potentially hurting their pocketbook by leaving that light on and ignoring it,” says Jim Collins, a national training team leader for Ford Motor Co. Today’s automotive computers often try to compensate when there’s a problem, so you might not notice deterioration in performance, even though your fuel mileage might be suffering and your vehicle emitting unacceptable levels of hydrocarbons and other pollutants. If the light is steady, the problem is not an emergency, but you should schedule an appointment as soon as possible. If that happens, you should reduce power and have the car or truck looked at as soon as possible. In late-model cars, a blinking light usually indicates an engine misfire so severe that unburned fuel is being dumped into the exhaust system, where it can quickly damage the catalytic converter, leading to an expensive repair. Either way, you should have the vehicle checked by a mechanic. A blinking light, or in some cars a red light instead of a yellow or orange light, indicates a problem that needs immediate attention. ![]() If the check engine light illuminates, it will either blink or remain constantly illuminated, depending on the problem. This can work in some instances, but when in doubt, seek professional help. With the cost of a shop performing a diagnosis costing around $90, many car owners are turning to the internet to find the cause and remedy. The code will typically just point you in the direction of the problem, and still requires an experienced professional to fully diagnose and repair the issue. There are also a number of relatively inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers. The code can be read with an electronic scan tool or a diagnostic computer-standard equipment in auto repair shops. In addition to turning on the light-known as the International Check Engine Symbol-the computer stores a “trouble code” in its memory that identifies the source of the problem, such as a malfunctioning sensor or a misfiring engine. When it finds a problem in the electronic-control system that it can’t correct, a computer turns on a yellow warning indicator labeled “check engine,” “service engine soon,” or “check powertrain.” Or the light may look like nothing more than a picture of an engine, perhaps with the word “check.”
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