Don’t Ignore the Check Engine Light

It’s a great day for a drive in Bradenton. You’re coming home from work/school/the store, when you take a sudden peak at your dashboard. Your heart quickly sinks as that little yellow glow of doom stares right back at you. Yep, it’s the check Engine light.

The simple ambiguity of the phrase only adds to the panic. And though it probably doesn’t mean everything under the hood is on the verge of a complete meltdown, there may be costly repercussions for ignoring it. Let’s talk about what exactly your Check Engine light is trying to tell you and the costly repairs you can avoid by a simple preventative visit to your mechanic.

What Your Check Engine Light is Indicating

Your Check Engine light is connected with a computer that tracks the readings of sensors in your vehicle’s emissions systems. These readings can tell a lot about what’s going on inside your engine. Often times a glowing light means your exhaust is over saturated with unburned gasoline.

This saturated exhaust puts a lot of stress on your catalytic converter. Also known as simply “the cat,” this device helps to filter out harmful sulfurous bi-products of combustion by using precious metals. With too much vaporous gasoline pumping through the exhaust system, though, the cat gets overworked and can’t perform its job. This can lead to heat build-up and a possible vehicle fire.

And because the cat is functioning properly, it means you’ll probably also fail your vehicle’s next emission test. That’s a road you don’t want to go down, pun totally intended. Luckily, you’ve got the power to stop this before it ever becomes a problem.

See the Light? Come to Cox Chevy

All you have to do when you see the check engine light is to bring it in to Cox Chevy. We’ve got the equipment to talk with your vehicle’s computer so we can begin to pinpoint the problem. A little money now will help to save you a lot in the future. If you would like to make an appointment, feel free to give us a call or schedule service online. Cox Chevy is located on Cortez Road West, just a quarter of a mile to the west of the Sweetbay Supermarket.