What to Do When Your Service Engine Light Is On

Computer systems in cars are very complicated and monitor many systems. When the service engine light is on, the computer has detected a problem and a code is stored in memory. This code helps your mechanic narrow down the problem. Sometimes a sensor or computer controlled device is bad or there is a problem with the motor or accessory. Just because a certain code has been reported by the computer for a certain part doesn’t necessarily mean that part is bad.

Example: I have a customer with a Chevy Blazer. The truck would sputter and stall. He went to a store that checked the code in his computer and was told he had a bad mass air flow sensor. He purchased the part for about $300.00. Went  home and put it in. The truck still sputtered and stalled. Thinking he had purchased a faulty part, he exchanged it and tried another one. No change, still the same problem. Eventually he dropped the truck off at my shop for inspection. I traced the problem to a bad fuel pump. The store that sold him they would not refund his money for the mass air flow sensor. So, he was left with a part he did not need..

The moral of the story-
Just because your computer has a certain code stored, it does not mean that particular part or sensor is bad. To save you time, money, hassles and frustration, the best thing to do is bring your car to a trusted professional for diagnosis when your service engine light is on.

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