The Check Engine Light and Your Car

I remember the first time my check engine light came on. It brought the fear of an eminent car failure with flames and smoke. My mind was telling me the end was near. Yes I was a little panicky and wondering if I should call a tow truck. I have since learned that is usually not the case.

The Check Engine Light

In most cases, when your check engine light comes on, there’s no reason for alarm. Be concerned, but don’t panic. It’s a common problem and often indicates something minor. It could be something as simple as a loose gas cap however more typically, there may be an issue with your emissions.

While your car won’t pass an emissions inspection if the check engine light is on, this won’t cause your car to stop running. In fact, it’s very rare that the check engine light signals an actual engine problem that will cause you to break down. So unless the light is flashing or you notice other signs of an engine problem, such as your car running sloppily or making unusual noises you do not need to stop your car. Just call us to make an appointment to come in soon. We will run a scan to determine what caused the light to come on.

Yellow vs. Red Indicator Lights

An easy way to remember which lights indicate the most severe problems is by color. Just remember that yellow means caution and red means stop. Since your check engine light illuminates in yellow, you should use caution, but don’t get alarmed unless you notice other problems with your car.

On the other hand, an indicator light that illuminates in red is a warning that there’s a problem that needs immediate attention. Some typical indicator lights that illuminate or flash red include brake, temperature and oil indicator lights. When these lights illuminate or flash red, you should pull the car off as soon as you can find a place out of harm’s way, and stop the car. Then immediately call us.

Here are some problems that the indicator lights could signal when they illuminate red:

• Temperature - Your car could be overheating and there’s the potential to fry your engine.
• Oil - Your car might have low oil pressure, which can cause your engine to throw a rod bearing or worse.
• Brakes - Your brakes may not be working properly.
• Battery – There could be an issue, such as an alternator malfunction, that could lead to a dead battery. The alternator is the component that keeps the battery charged and supplies voltage for other systems while the engine is running.

Don't forget about our other shop Atlanta Hybrid Repair. AHR is equipped to handle all your Toyota and Lexus service needs. AHR is smaller so often it's easier to get an appointment. Gas powered and hybrids are welcome. Located at 5630 Peachtree Blvd. 1 mile away from the main shop across the street from Wendy’s and the Kia dealership. Call for appointment at 770-492-7437

Regular preventive maintenance is the best single thing you can do as a car owner to keep your car running safer, longer and save money on major repairs in the future.

My Car Broke Down Yesterday

Driving down Peachtree Industrial yesterday all of a sudden my car started running roughly. The check engine light and another warning light started flashing. I then became an average guy freaking out wondering if my car was going to blow up, stop in the middle of the road or barely make it off the road. Fortunately I was able to make it to our other shop. Whew !

When this occurred I had no idea what was wrong and I was imagining the worst. My mind was spinning. Do I need a new engine, thousands of dollars of repairs, can it be fixed, is my car worth repairing, what am I going to do ?

Well as it turns out one of my coils went bad and my car was only operating on 3 cylinders instead of 4. Depending on the vehicle, this is typically a $300 - $600 repair. I was fortunate that I drive a Scion XB and this was only a $300 repair.

I just wanted y'all to know car problems happen to everybody even us. Thankfully I have people I trust to diagnose and repair my vehicle same as you. This made me feel really grateful for my fellow employees and their expertise repairing broken down vehicles.

I do want to say is if your car breaks down it stinks however it’s going to be OK because you have people who you can depend on that will always give you the best options possible to get you back on the road as soon as possible. Our motto is “Work done right, on time and at a fair price”

What is Your Check Engine Light Telling You ?

One of the most vital components to a properly functioning vehicle is the ‘Check Engine’ light. It alerts the driver to a variety of potential problems based on the vehicle’s onboard diagnostic system. When the ‘Check Engine’ light comes on, it means that some system in your vehicle, including ignition, fuel injection or emission control, is not operating at peak performance, even if your vehicle appears to you to be running normally.

A glowing ‘Check Engine’ light doesn't mean you have to immediately pull the car over to the side of the road, but it does mean you should get the car checked out as soon as possible. Ignoring the warning light could severely damage engine components and incur additional repair expenses.

If your ‘Check Engine’ light comes on, first check the gas cap to make sure it wasn’t left loose after refueling. Sometimes this can trigger the ‘Check Engine’ light. If the cap was loose, the light should go out after a few short trips.

If the gas cap wasn’t the problem and the light remains on steady, have the system checked out as soon as possible. A light that flashes requires more prompt attention, indicating a more severe condition that must be checked out immediately to prevent damage to the catalytic converter. When you experience a flashing light, minimize driving at high speeds or under heavy loads.

Our Technician will connect your vehicle's computer to a diagnostic computer, which will provide a “trouble” code indicating why the ‘Check Engine’ light was activated.

While the diagnostic computer is connected to your car, our Technician can check the idle speed, throttle response, engine temperature, fuel system pressure, manifold vacuum, exhaust emission levels and many other key indicators. Once the problem is diagnosed and fixed, your car's computer makes sure everything is back to normal, and then turns off the ‘Check Engine’ light.

Seven Ways You Could be Killing Your Car

The car you own can either be a nightmare or a dream depending on how well you take care of your vehicle. The following are seven things that motorists do that can harm their car and wallet.

• Ignoring the check engine light. Ignoring an illuminated check engine light can result in serious engine trouble and costly repairs. At the very least, this warning light could alert you to an engine problem that is negatively impacting fuel economy.

• Failing to change fluids and filters. Many fluids are required for the operation and protection of systems and components. Checking and changing fluid levels regularly along with the filters helps ensure that your vehicle runs dependably and extends vehicle life. This includes oil changes, transmission, power steering and brake flushes.

• Not following a service schedule. Because many car parts and components wear out or become damaged over time, vehicles need to be routinely serviced in order to perform over time. Routine safety inspections and timely repairs will help keep your car running efficiently and will help you avoid more expensive repairs down the road.

• Neglecting your tires. Your vehicle’s tires should be checked frequently for inflation and tread depth. Underinflated tires can wear out more quickly, needing to be replaced sooner, and can negatively impact safety, gas mileage and performance.

• Being a severe driver. Whether it’s stop and go traffic, extreme weather, rough roads or heavy loads, it can sometimes be difficult to limit severe driving conditions especially in the Atlanta area. Maximize your trips and errands by doing several at the same time or at low traffic times.

• Keeping a dirty car. Allowing your car to go too long without a wash leads to buildup of damaging chemicals and dirt and interferes with proper visibility needed for safe driving.

• Avoiding needed services from ToyoTechs. By not having your car serviced on a regular basis your vehicle will not run as well and the life of your car will be shorter.

Please keep up with your car care, you’ll be glad you did in the long run. Your car will last longer and have a better value by being well kept.