If the Check Engine light comes on while you’re driving but the car seems to be running smoothly, chances are you can drive home and then have the car examined by a mechanic. The Check Engine light can signal any number of component failures, from a loose gas cap that causes a fuel-vapor leak to a faulty oxygen sensor that affects gas mileage. A blinking check engine light usually indicates a severe engine misfire that could damage your car’s expensive catalytic converter if ignored. So get it fixed as soon as possible.
Read your owner’s manual and familiarize yourself with all the dashboard warning lights. The more you know about your car, the less likely you’ll be asking the mechanic “How much?”
– Ray Cox is a senior ASE certified technician with AutoMD.com, an online automotive-repair service owned by US Auto Parts Network.
