Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Auto Zone or most local garage gas stations have code readers

OP here, thanks DCUM. Code is orange. I did not know Autozone had readers. Leaving work right now to get it checked. (Autozone around the corner.)

Federal worker?

I have an 11 year old minivan and the check engine light has been on for about 2 years. It runs fine.

Anonymous wrote:Gizmo will. A menu shows up on the screen and one of the options is, "erase codes". The problem, sometimes, is being sold the correct gizmo for your make/year of car.

They are all the same "gizmos". They are OBD II readers. Cheaper ones only give the code. More expensive ones will give the code and a very short text description of the failure. They aren't make/model specific.

The no.#1 reason that the “Check Engine” light illuminates is due to a loose gas cap.

Make plenty sure it is not only screwed on tightly, but also that it is factory, not after market.
Plus like another poster mentioned, give it a few days to clear.

Otherwise get the car scanned to see what code comes up.
An auto sales store may be able to assist you w/this gratis.

And yes, if the light flashes while driving it may mean the issue is critical.

I drove a few weeks w/mine flashing on + off while driving and it turned out I really needed a set of brand-new spark plugs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mine came on two days ago in this cold weather (parked in my driveway). Today, after being parked in my work garage, it turned off.

You sure it's not the tire pressure indicator light? Those go off in the cold if you haven't topped up the tires lately.

Yep I'm sure.

Gizmo will. A menu shows up on the screen and one of the options is, "erase codes". The problem, sometimes, is being sold the correct gizmo for your make/year of car.

I'm 18:37/ 18:38. My check engine light would go on and off in my old car and then was on for 3 years straight (and blinking). Nothing was wrong with it. My current car- the light has gone on and off over the years going over a bump, then it goes off in a day, then I hit the bump again... it's now been on since July (passed inspection in June during the one week the light was off!). If I buy the gizmo to read the codes, do I have to know about cars to turn off the sensor? Or does the gizmo turn it off?

buy the thing to read the codes yourself

This is what I did years ago since our family has 3 older cars. I clear the codes myself. Weather affects the sensors. If the engine hasn't warmed-up before driving (older car), that affects the sensors. Sometimes sensors fail and with an older car it doesn't seem worth the money to pay to repair the senor. One car trips a senor occasionally and the code reads, small emissions leak but has always passed the state emissions test. It wouldn't though if I drove it to the test w/the check engine light ON. They will fail it automatically for that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Before you bring it in, make sure that the gas tank is closed tightly. If it's loose, that can cause the check engine light to go on.

Yep, I'd check this first.

This has happened to me before

Anonymous wrote:Mine came on two days ago in this cold weather (parked in my driveway). Today, after being parked in my work garage, it turned off.

You sure it's not the tire pressure indicator light? Those go off in the cold if you haven't topped up the tires lately.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up with mechanics and just stop by the auto store and have the code read. Depending on what it says, I’ve left it alone for years before.

If the light flashes, that’s when it’s an immediate issue.

Two mechanics have told me the blinking is programmed in to make you take it to the dealer. It means nothing. Mine blinked for years, can ran fine.

Car, not can! My can runs fine too though.

Anonymous wrote:I grew up with mechanics and just stop by the auto store and have the code read. Depending on what it says, I’ve left it alone for years before.

If the light flashes, that’s when it’s an immediate issue.

Two mechanics have told me the blinking is programmed in to make you take it to the dealer. It means nothing. Mine blinked for years, can ran fine.

Mine came on two days ago in this cold weather (parked in my driveway). Today, after being parked in my work garage, it turned off.

Mine has been on for more than a year now.

Yeah, just have them run a diagnostic on it. Easy. If you don't want to look at the light while you're driving, put a small piece of tape over it and pretend it's not there. I have a light on in my car, I know exactly what the problem is since I do a lot of my own repairs, so I just ignore it until I feel like fixing it. It's not a big deal for me. A light just came on in my 2017 vehicle, however, so we'll have to go have a diagnostic run since it's still under warranty. I don't repair vehicles under warranty when someone else will do it for free.