Apr 4, 2009 -
Ask Dub Schwartz!
Dear Dub,
My check engine light has come on and gone off a couple of times now. Any idea what it might be? The car seems to be running OK, but right now would be a bad time for an expensive repair.
Homer Collyer
Do I LOOK like a psychic Homer? Your CEL could be almost anything from a loose gap cap to a misfiring cylinder. The only way to find out is to check what codes are stored on the ECU.
If your car was made after 1996 you can get those codes with an OBD-II scanner if you have one or - here's a thought - you could take it to a mechanic to have him scan for the codes.
But since you're fishing for free help here, I'm guessing you could have a car made before '96 in which case there is a diagnostic module in the engine compartment by the main fuse box. You might find a label on the underside of the hood explaining which terminals to access. You can even use a paper clip to connect the two terminals will cause the check engine light to flash in the dash when the key is in the accessory position. By reading the number of flashes one can determine which code was set. Manufacturer’s code guides, available online, will reveal which system tripped the check engine light.
There you go Homer. That's the end of the free advice for today. Be sure to stop and see me when you're ready to have that service done!
