Get a cheap OBD2 scanner. They cost like €5 for Bluetooth ones and will tell you what error codes you are getting. A lot of them are not serious, and would save you a lot of money.
I’ll have to remember this one.
Seconded. I was freaking out about a week ago. Turns out the gas cap had come unscrewed.
I know it’s just a meme, but an OBDII dongle — even a cheap $10 Bluetooth one — is super useful. You can read and reset the codes, and watch stats in real-time if so inclined.
My car doesn’t have a reliable km/h gauge so I used an app to poll the speed of the car and show it up on my phone exactly in the way you described.
That’s how a $50 problem becomes a $2000 problem
Exactly. All the memes and stickers about letting the CEL stay on are funny, but if you don’t know what code is triggering the light, you are gambling with your car, or even your safety. Seriously people, get a CEL checked out, and then decide if you feel it’s worth fixing. Most auto parts stores, dealers, etc. will happily do it for you, often at no cost, but at least be an informed consumer instead of just hoping it will be okay.
Or just buy an obd2 scanner and read the code yourself
This is how my buddy blew the engine on his insight. It was burning oil so long that it melted the spark plugs. He could have had it fixed for free but he didn’t know about it until that extension had ended.
I actually don’t know what was wrong with it because he never let me take a look for him. I offered to have an engine delivered to my house and me and another friend could have slapped a used engine in.
He was hellbent on buying a new car so he traded it in.
A friend of mine had a very reliable car. Then he had to get new spark plugs and brake pads around the same time. He got tired of the car having “problems” so he got a…used mini cooper.
BRUH
It’s only $50 if you can do it yourself, don’t value your time, and already have the tools.
When I got it on my 2018 Civic last year, it turned out that rats had crawled up to the engine compartment and chewed of a cylinder cable.
I still managed to drive to work and to the car repair shop - albeit on low gears.
People get real busybody when they see me driving on a donut for two weeks. Like dude this is the tenth time I’ve done this with the same donut. Random shit can fail any time, I’m not falling for that particular paranoia.
You’re gonna kill yourself or someone else. Those donuts are meant for like 20 miles at low speeds. They’re awful and are a blowout waiting to happen. If they were meant to be driven on for long periods of time those are the type of tires we’d use because they’re cheaper than normal tires, but they’re not which is why you shouldn’t do dumb shit like run a donut for two weeks.
They’re trying to save your life, comrade.
Consider getting a full size spare. Especially for older cars you can just pay a junkyard $30 for a wheel off a wreck (make sure it’s the same diameter as your four) and have the tire shop swap the best leftover onto it next time you get new fronts, old fronts swapped into the back and the old backs recycled…
As long as one’s bank account balance is lower than one’s IQ, the check engine light will never be anything more than a suggestion.
Drove the same Jeep for 13 years, the check engine light was on for at least 10. Oxygen sensors are bullshit.
Oxygen sensors are bullshit.
And expensive!
My parents got a brand new 2023 Sienna and the check engine light is already on - because the windshield wiper fluid is empty.
“I checked, and the engine is there”
My Honda check engine light came on and… it was a faulty check engine light bulb, got it replaced, no more check engine light
You need a check check engine light light
I feel this is also true for toyotas.
Someone once told me “FORD = Fix Or Replace Daily”. Never owned a Ford but still think it’s funny.
Also “Found on road, dead”, and “first on race day”.
Fiat has “Fix it again, Tony”.
There’s an extremely racist one for Pontiac.
Flip Over Read Directions
