Originally appeared on Automoblog.net
It can be a little disconcerting when the check engine light illuminates on your dash board. From my experience as a Service Advisor, I can tell you it brings up a lot of different emotions. Some customers would get quite concerned, thinking their car was one step away from disaster. This often caused a sort of panic, where if they didn?t have their car, then getting to work, dropping the kids off, and running errands were suddenly impossible.
Others were baffled as they took such good care of their vehicle. Often times, these customers could not focus unless the cause of the check engine light was found and of course, immediately repaired.
The Right Tools
There are a number of things that can flag your check engine light, some being more serious than others. However, with the right amount of patience and the correct tools, you can get a pretty good idea of why your check engine light is on. Knowing this ahead of time can provide peace of mind before you see your mechanic. If you are a ?do-it-yourself? person, it’s a relief because you now know what needs to be fixed. Today, OBD-II (on-board diagnostic) scanners are available for purchase. However, given the number of scanners on the market, it may be difficult to determine which one is right for you. Recently, we met Tim Miller, an auto mechanic from Colorado with over 20 years of experience. On his website OBD Advisor, Miller shares his knowledge and love of cars.
He recently e...