Should I take my car to the dealership for check engine light?

Should I take my car to the dealership for check engine light?

When the dreaded check engine light turns on, it’s best to take your vehicle to the Ford dealership for a checkup. Our certified mechanics will read your check engine codes and know exactly how best to fix whatever problems have arisen.

How much should a check engine light diagnostic cost?

On average, the fee to have an auto mechanic diagnose a check engine light is $100.

Does check engine light turn off automatically after repair?

“Does a check engine light turn off automatically after repairing a car?” Speaking generally: yes, but not immediately. If the fault that stored the codes and lit the light is corrected, the light will be switched off and the codes cleared after a number of drive cycles, or after a period of continuous operation.

What does it mean when the orange engine light is on?

The orange, engine-shaped icon on your car dashboard’s instrument cluster is programmed to turn on when the vehicle’s electronic brain detects something is wrong. Don’t panic if you see it — it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll need to give your next paycheck to the nearest mechanic.

Are dealership diagnostics accurate?

In many cases, when you get your car diagnosed by an independent mechanic, they’re guessing about what is wrong with your vehicle. Guesses can be very expensive when it comes to car repairs. At a dealership, your technician will make an accurate diagnosis and get the repair done right the first time.

Are car dealership service rip offs?

The only way it is a rip off is if customers allow it. Some dealerships have been know to want to prematurely replace things that did not need to. But then you have people that DO need the repairs but have it in their head the whole word and every dealership and shop is out to get them.

What is the most common reason for check engine light?

Replacing a faulty oxygen sensor — a sensor used to optimize a vehicle’s fuel-to-air mixture to increase gas mileage and reduce emissions — is the most common cause for a check engine light.

How long can you drive with check engine light on?

When the check engine light is solid, you can typically drive the car for hundreds of miles without an issue. Of course, that depends on which code is stored in the vehicle’s computer. If an engine sensor is faulty, the car will usually use made up sensor values to keep running.

Can I drive with check engine light on?

The rule of thumb is that if the check engine light is flashing, you can’t keep driving the car. It’s an emergency. Often it indicates an engine misfire. If you keep driving, you will likely cause irreversible damage, mostly to the (expensive) catalytic converter.

How far do you have to drive to reset the check engine light?

To make sure the check engine light does not reappear, it’s recommended that you drive your car 30 to 100 miles. This enables the vehicle’s “Drive Cycle” to reset, as the various sensors need time to recalibrate.

Can I drive with engine light on?

Can I drive with engine management light on?

A flashing engine management light is usually also amber and, again, lets you know that there’s a potential issue with your car that you should have looked at as soon as possible. It’s safe to continue driving so you can continue your journey and book your car in to your local garage as soon as you can.

What does it mean when your check engine light comes on?

When the light comes on, a code is stored as the reason for triggering the light. When you take your car in to get it checked out, the mechanic hooks up a little diagnostic computer to your vehicle’s computer. They will then get a code and description that tells them what the issue is.

Should you take your car to a local mechanic or dealer?

A how to on the pros and cons to taking your automobile to the dealer or the local shop. Taking care of your vehicle can save you serious money in fuel and resale value, but you may have found yourself wondering if you can save even more by taking you car into to the local mechanic rather than the dealer.

Should you go to the local auto repair shop for maintenance?

Nearly everyone has gone to the local shop for routine auto maintenance only to drive away after paying a lot more in unexpected charges. Most mechanics are honest, hardworking people who only want to help you by pointing out problems you may not know about.

How much does it cost to check the service engine light?

Check Engine Light: The Mechanic’s Dirty Little Secret What your mechanic probably won’t tell you is that you really didn’t need to shell out $100 just for them to hook up an OBD-II scanner to check on the service engine light. You can get that for free at most auto-parts stores. I’ve had this done at NAPA and Advance Auto Parts.