Are you prepared with a plan of action if your car’s check engine light turns on? Lakelands Tire & Auto wants you to be able to respond to this situation calmly and with confidence.
First, Don’t Freak Out
Your first gut instinct might be to have a moment of panic. But that’s not going to help and this probably isn’t a panic-worthy situation, believe it or not. Very often the check engine light is a warning that something is a minor problem now that is going to affect the engine, either shortly or eventually. It’s not always an emergency, but it can definitely feel like one as soon as you see the light.
What’s Changed?
Ask yourself first what has changed, if anything. Is the car doing anything different? Is it making new sounds or giving you trouble in any way? Asking yourself these questions can sometimes help you to pinpoint what might have caused the check engine light to come on. Something else you can ask yourself is whether you’ve missed any services, like an oil change. Getting those services handled promptly may resolve the issue for you.
Are There Other Warning Lights?
What about other warning lights? Maybe nothing has changed in how the car sounds or is functioning, but if you’re seeing other warning lights they can offer a clue as to what’s happening. You may also want to check the owner’s manual for your car to see what else you should look for that’s specific for your car.
Set Up an Appointment Right Away
The really big takeaway here is that you can take a few minutes to think through what might be happening, but don’t take too long. Almost always the check engine light is letting you know that there’s a problem coming, but it’s not catastrophic just yet. If you ignore it or drive around with the light on for a while, however, that timeline changes. You can be doing more damage and creating a bigger repair for yourself if you wait to get some help.
Seeing the check engine light? Don’t try anything you read on the internet. Call Lakelands Tire & Auto in Greenwood, SC right away. We’ll accurately diagnose what’s happening and let you know what your car’s engine needs from you in order to get back to running well again. We can also help you to maintain your car afterward.