Check Engine Light Diagnosis

Why Check Engine Lights Turn On

The check engine light is connected to the computer, which receives input from sensors all throughout the vehicle, especially in the fuel system. When one of those sensors in the fuel line gets an abnormal reading, it sends a code to the computer, which logs the code and turns on your check engine light. This is why check engine light diagnosis isn’t as simple as merely reading the code; the cause of the abnormal reading needs to be found before the problem can be fixed.

How We Diagnose Check Engine Lights

Our certified technicians always start by taking a look at the code the computer logged. This gives them a starting point from which they can look for issues. They go through every possible cause of that abnormal reading and rule out possibilities until they find one they can’t rule out. If they can replicate the problem or visually confirm what happened, then they’re satisfied with the diagnosis and will let you know what’s going on with your car so that you can fix it.

Why Get Check Engine Lights Diagnosed at Thompson Toyota

Check engine lights can mean very simple things have happened, or very serious things have happened. In fact, if your check engine light is blinking, this means that you should pull over, as there is an imminent threat of danger to your engine if you keep driving. Even solid check engine lights should be taken care of, however, as they can be early warning signs of a problem, and it’s best to get those taken care of before they become a serious problem.