Question:
My check engine light is on and my boyfriend thinks he can get the code read and know what part to replace to fix my truck. I say it’s not that simple. Who’s right?
Frankie’s Auto Center Answer:
Good news – you are! Just look at it logically: there are hundreds of things that can go wrong with your truck. Some are simple and some are quite complicated.
Let’s take a step back. Over 80% of engine functions are computer controlled. The computer receives critical information from dozens of sensors. When a sensor reading is out of range, a trouble code is entered in the computer and the Check Engine Light is illuminated.
It’s a common misconception by Elizabethtown auto owners that the trouble code will tell you exactly what is wrong. For any given trouble code, there are any number of faults that would trigger the code. For example, a code indicating a misfire on cylinder three could be due to a bad spark plug, a failed coil, ignition problems, compression issues, etc. Each of those possibilities requires additional critical diagnosis to confirm or rule out a cause. Once a trained Frankie’s Auto Center technician with state-of-the art diagnostic tools and extensive research databases is able to nail down the problem, then he can set about getting it corrected.
A complicated diagnosis may take some time. Your boyfriend might be tempted to bypass a diagnosis charge by taking a trouble code reading with an inexpensive scan tool and start replacing parts. He might get lucky, but chances are you’ll end up spending more time and income than if you went to a professional with the right equipment.
A final word – a flashing Check Engine Light indicates that a condition exists that could lead to serious, costly damage. Elizabethtown auto owners should get to their service center or Frankie’s Auto Center in Elizabethtown right away. A steadily illuminated Check Engine Light is less urgent so you can get it checked at your convenience. But keep in mind that a minor issue today can become more serious for Radcliff car owners if left unresolved.
Give us a call
Frankie’s Auto Center
3273 South Dixie Hwy
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
270.737.6412
At Frankie’s Auto Center in Elizabethtown KY (42701) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 270.737.6412. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.
