Why is the engine light on in my car?

[rcrush]

Its running fine. I want to ignore it and pretend it will go away.

[LeftyFingerPop]

1. Put a piece of black tape over it.

[PVnRT]

2. It could just be scheduled maintenance due

Check the owner's manual, some cars have a way of determining why the light is coming on. Or, try taking it to a parts dealer, some of them can plug into the car's computer and figure it out as well, sometimes for free.

[TrogL]

3. Could be a whole lot of things

Mine went on for "misfire in cylinder #4" - a onetime occurence 'cause I drove through a puddle and it sucked some water.

It will go away eventually (I think).

[AlCzervik]

4. how many miles are on it? My engine light on the honda i used to have came on

when it hit 10,000 mile intervals because it was supposed to be serviced.

[LostinVA]

5. Put tape over it -- it stayed on for the last four years I owned my old car

[Shell Beau]

6. It could just be the sensor or your car could be about to explode!

:shrug:

Hopefully it is just the sensor. :P

[guitar man]

7. check your gas cap

I know in a lot of late model vehicles if the gas cap is not on correctly or if the cap vent is plugged, it can cause the check engine light to come on.

[Rosie1223]

11. Second this

if the gas cap isn't "clicked", the check engine light will come on.

[LynneSin]

17. THIRD THAT (and a true story)

My engine light came on and not knowing what the problem was I took it to the toyota dealership and had them check it. They said they could run diagnostics but it would run me $80 to do - what could I do my engine light was on.

Well an hour later I get a phone call that they said my gas cap was missing but they went ahead and ran the tests anyways. I then find out that lose and/or missing gas caps are like the #1 cause of the engine light turning on and these people RAN the diagnostics test even though it was clearly evident that the gas cap was missing.

I had this work done on a Saturday - by Monday morning I was so pissed they would do this test even though they knew my missing gas cap caused the problem.

I called the dealership and they refunded the money for the diagnostic test.

Light has not come on since.

[semillama]

8. Might just be your emissions system

If it's a Toyota, that's why the light comes on, and once they get up around 100,000 miles on certain makes and years, apparently that's common for it to come on. My mechanic told me not to worry about it on my 99 Corolla; it's on in my dad's 2000 Camry and it's because the higher pollution levels in cities puts a strain on the catalytic converter (I think - my depth of auto knowledge wouldn't fill a cup holder).

[LisaM]

9. Ours came on AFTER we had a tune up and the master cylinder replaced

There's nothing left that could be causing it to come on, so we're living with it for now (though I'd like to have it off).

That said, make sure all your fluid levels are good, and be sure you're not low on oil.

[rcrush]

12. Just had an oil and fluid change when the light came on

[LisaM]

13. Then it may be a settings issue. Apparently there is something

the mechanic is supposed to do that ours didn't (and my SO just won't complain and/or take it back to get fixed - he's very non-aggressive about things like that).

[HERVEPA]

10. If you have the Autozone chain in your area, go there and

they will plug into your car and read the resulting code for free.
May be catalytiv converter. Of so, don't have it done by a dealer.

[jobycom]

14. What kind of car, and what does the "Engine" light say?

Cars are different. My Prius has a "Maintenance Req'd" light that comes on every 5K miles to tell me I need an oil change. Other cars have "Check Engine" lights that come on every time the computer registers something odd. That could mean anything from a hot day causing vapor lock in your gas tank to a major component going out. On some cars you have to have a device to read the computer code to understand it, while on other cars, usually older ones, there is a code system that lets you figure it out yourself. Check the owners manual, or go to a parts store and talk to the geeks there.

If you ignore it and it goes away, it was probably nothing. If you ignore it and it stays on, but you don't notice any change--rough running, worse fuel consumption--it's probably not too big a deal, although there is always the chance you will burst into flames at some random time and place. If you feel something different, like a hesitation, rough idle, a skip at certain speeds, definitely get it checked out.

But check your manual for simple explanations, first. And if you don't have a manual, google your make and model and "Engine Light" or some such, and you'll find something.

[IndianaJones]

15. egr stuck. pull it off and clean it. nt.

[RebelOne]

16. Check and see if your gas cap is tightened securely.

That has happened to me a few times and each time, my gas cap was loose. Tighten it and the light should go off in a few days.