check engine light stays on but car runs fine (vehicle, 2011, auto)
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Know apparent difference in how the car drives. As I understand it the check engine light is programed to come on at a certain mileage to indicate to people to have their car checked. Don't know if that is it but its big bucks to have a car hooked up to a scope and checked out. What would you do?
Know apparent difference in how the car drives. As I understand it the check engine light is programed to come on at a certain mileage to indicate to people to havetheir car checked. Don't know if that is it but its big bucks to have a car hooked up to a scope and checked out. What would you do?
That would be incorrect. If the check engine light is on then something's wrong. It could be simple or complex. Since there's been no change in the car's operation it's most likely something simple.
Auto Zone or such like will read the codes for free. That just gives you the system where the fault is located so eventually you'll have to take the car in to a mechanic unless you can do the work yourself.
First thing is to tighten your gas cap, that will trigger it in about any new car these days, it may need to cycle through a few cycles to reset. After that if it doesn't go away get the code checked.
That would be incorrect. If the check engine light is on then something's wrong. It could be simple or complex. Since there's been no change in the car's operation it's most likely something simple.
Auto Zone or such like will read the codes for free. That just gives you the system where the fault is located so eventually you'll have to take the car in to a mechanic unless you can do the work yourself.
how do they get the codes? Am I suppose to provide those? If so where do I find them?
First thing is to tighten your gas cap, that will trigger it in about any new car these days, it may need to cycle through a few cycles to reset. After that if it doesn't go away get the code checked.
I don't have a gas cap. Its a Ford Taurus 2011 and it comes without one. Maybe that's part of the problem.
how do they get the codes? Am I suppose to provide those? If so where do I find them?
They will plug a reader into the car, and pull the code from the car's CPU. The code can be looked up online to see what the problem area is, and then you have a general idea of what needs to be fixed.
Most CEL conditions are related to the emissions system of a car. If the CEL is on, get the code. If the CEL is blinking, don't drive the car; something is seriously wrong.
CEL for a 2011 car is highly unusual. More often than not CEL is emission related which afflicts older cars. You can read the code but removing the condition is not straightforward. Often some obscure vacuum leak.
CEL for a 2011 car is highly unusual. More often than not CEL is emission related which afflicts older cars. You can read the code but removing the condition is not straightforward. Often some obscure vacuum leak.
Nothing unusual about it on any car. In general, when something fails, MIL is illuminated.
In general, Sayantsi is correct. If the operation of the vehicle isn't affected, you're normally looking at something in the emissions system. But.. That's not a guarantee. After a year and about 20k miles, I got a SES/CEL/MIL (Service Engine Soon, Check Engine Light, Malfunction Indicator Lamp.. All the same thing) on my '97 S-10 when I bought it new. Vehicle was running fine.. Was a transmission slip code. Dealership was scratching their head, replaced the electronics of the transmission.. Cleared the code, but then 2k miles later, tranny fell out.
That's kinda a worst case scenario.. It's actually rather rare that transmission issues set a code in my experience.
Without knowing the code though.. Spitting in the wind. Just about every system in a car, short of the seat adjustment lever, can set the MIL. Even the thermostat being stuck open will set the MIL.. And the only way you'd notice is by watching the temp gauge. And, there'd probably be some mild mileage dropoff. Evap system is the same. Vehicle will run fine, but you might lose a couple mpgs. O2 sensors are the same.. Generally don't affect performance noticibly, but mileage goes to hell.
Other items, such as MAP/MAF sensor codes.. You generally know something is wrong.
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