All vehicles built from the mid-nineties are equipped with what’s called an OBD (onboard diagnostics) system that taps into a car’s electronic control unit on a real-time basis and illuminates either of several warning lights on the dashboard if the car is suffering a mechanical issue.
The most prevalent of these is a light that either looks like a car’s engine or spells out “Check Engine” that stays illuminated after the vehicle is started. It usually indicates there’s a problem with the emissions system, though it could mean there’s a more serious problem lurking under the hood. When that happens the sensible course of action to take, of course, is to take the car, truck, or SUV to a trusted mechanic to have the issue checked out and repaired.
The problem is the system doesn’t automatically go into detail about why the alert comes to life, and if the vehicle seems to otherwise be running fine, many drivers ignore these warnings.
According to the vehicle repair site CarMD.com, nearly half of all cars on the road (49%) are being driven with one or more dashboard warnings illuminated, with 20% operated specifically with the Check Engine light on. This is down to owners putting off needed repairs because of rising parts and labour costs and extended ownership periods. The study found that vehicles from the 2007 model year are most likely to require a Check Engine-related repair.
Even without serious symptoms a car or truck could suffer decreased fuel economy as great as twenty-five per cent with the Check Engine light on, and at today’s gas prices, the extra cost can add up quickly. Worse, neglecting to address what might be a relatively minor problem today could lead to costlier and more complicated – and expensive – fixes down the road.
Ignoring the Check Engine light can cause a car to fail an emissions test and can result in the need for additional repairs. We encourage drivers to address all of their dashboard warning lights to help make sure their vehicle is as reliable and efficient as it can be.
So, for all your automotive parts – whether they be electrical, spares or vehicle components look no further than the team at Bowers. Call us today on 01782 590 700 or email enquiries@bowersautoparts.net.