Certain scanners may give information on what the revealed code means, but most will just give a five digit number and letter combination.įollow these 4 steps to insert and read the OBD scanner: The scanner allows you to communicate with the computer and retrieve the trouble codes. In order to find out the reason the light is illuminated, you need to read the codes through the OBD port. Your Check Engine Light is illuminated when a fault is detected with one of your vehicle’s monitored systems.
Find a safe place to stop, turn off your car, and have it diagnosed and repaired before you continue to use it.
Warning: If the Check Engine Light comes on and flashes, it indicates a very serious concern. If the engine light comes on due to a serious concern, you risk damaging your car further by not repairing the issue right away. When your Check Engine Light comes on, you should get it checked out quickly by a certified mechanic. This is why it is important for someone who does not have a lot of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. Since there are hundreds of possible OBD codes, there are also hundreds of possible reasons for the light, including: Unfortunately, obvious and helpful vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. OBD codes are most frequently referred to as OBD-II, which has been the code type since 1996. Tip: OBD codes refers to nearly the same thing as DTC codes, therefore you will often hear them used interchangeably in the automotive industry. There are two acronyms to be aware of when it comes to discovering more about Check Engine Lights. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you useful knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is really supposed to do: be your guide. There are literally hundreds of different codes a Check Engine Light can represent. By preparing yourself with a little automotive knowledge, a helpful tool, and general background information on what this light is actually trying to tell you, you will not only gain more peace of mind, you will also develop a closer relationship to your vehicle.ĭiagnostic trouble codes (DTC) are automotive computer codes stored by the on-board computer diagnostic system (OBD) in your vehicle. It can be quite intimidating to see that little light on your vehicle’s dashboard suddenly illuminate, but in reality, it is not something that should paralyze you in fear right away. The Check Engine Light turning on is usually a topic car owners try to avoid talking too much about.
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