Red Engine Lights : What to Do

What may sound incredible is that many people have no idea what to do when the engine light comes on. Random surveys in the past have revealed that many drivers are clueless. Many drivers have little or no idea about what the light is trying to indicate or how one should respond.

Dashboard lights always flicker for a few seconds and then disappear. The majority of drivers pay no heed to these lights or when they do notice the light, no action is taken. However, all drivers should know and understand what a flashing engine light means.

There are countless anecdotal stories of what drivers have done to their cars when the engine light has come on- and each time the end result has been a disaster. Many drivers have different ideas as to why an engine light comes on. The reasons vary from low oil pressure, overheated engine, car running low on gas, diminished battery power, open hood or car door, malfunction of head lights and so on. It is imperative that all drivers sit down and read their car manual at least once in their life time. All drivers should become familiar with lights on the dashboard, especially the engine light. One can get a brief idea about the different lights on the dashboard by turning the key on/engine-off position.

When an engine light comes on, it will either blink or stay steady, depending on the situation. In any case whenever a light is on, the vehicle should be taken to a mechanic to be checked out. In general, a blinking light signals a more critical problem which requires immediate attention.

In cars built over the last decade, a blinking light more often than not indicates engine misfiring which is associated with spilling of unburnt fuel into the exhaust system. This event has been known to cause severe damage to the catalytic converter, which can prove to be a very expensive car repair.

Anytime an engine red light comes on, one should immediately slow down and have the car checked out as soon as possible. If the light is constant, the problem can wait but the car still needs to be checked out as soon as possible.

Many modern cars of today have built-in computers which often try to recompense whenever there is an engine problem. A flashing engine light is not always associated with immediate problems with the car- the only obvious observation may be a decrease in the fuel mileage and/or emission of high levels of hydrocarbons. In some cases, the car’s computer may automatically reduce the power in order to limit the car damage.
Anytime a driver ignores that engine light, he/she is potentially hurting both the car and his/her pocket.

If the check-engine light comes on, here are some tips on what you should do:
- Always check for things like low oil pressure or overheating of the engine. In such a case, you should pull over and shut the engine off as soon as you can.
- Sometimes the light may be due to a simple thing like a loose gas cap. So tighten the gas cap and see if the light resets. Some cars may have a separate indicator for a loose gas cap.
- When the engine light comes on or blinks, slow down and determine if the car’s performance has been affected. The most important point is to reduce power and stress on the car. If you are towing a trailer, it would be a good idea to stop and have the car checked out as soon as possible.
- The last thing you should do when an engine light comes on is to go for an emissions test. An illuminated engine light is a definite sign that your car is not road worthy. In most states, an on-engine light is an automatic failure.

One should never ignore the engine light; you could end up damaging expensive equipment which will definitely cost you a lot of money to fix. If you are lucky and are prompt in your response, the only adverse effects will have been a poor gas mileage and contamination of the environment with some hydrocarbons

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