What does the check engine light usually mean?
What does the check engine light usually mean? It’s a scenario that’s befallen drivers everywhere: They turn on the car and start to fiddle with the radio and the air. They glance left and right over their shoulders while buckling up to check whether they’re clear to back up. They put the car in gear, ease it down the driveway and go on their way. Then suddenly they glance down at the dash and notice with horror — the check engine light is still on! What does this mean? Well, for starters probably a pretty annoying day. If your check engine light is illuminated, it’s best to take it in for diagnostic testing, which can feel like a hassle. Because while the lights vary in appearance from vehicle to vehicle, all have the same basic meaning: There’s a problem with the car’s emissions system. The on-board diagnostics system and engine control unit are in charge of monitoring a bunch of different parameters, and if they get a reading that’s a little out of whack, up pops the check engine l
