Did You Turn Your Country on Then Off Again
The Service Engine Light: Your Mechanic'south Dirty Little Clandestine
Last updated: January 23, 2022
Troubleshoot the Check Engine Calorie-free, for Costless
Even if you detect a good mechanic, if you're like me, you shiver at the thought of paying hundreds of dollars for major vehicle repairs. Even more, yous dread paying $100 only to take your mechanic "take a look" at your vehicle to tell you that nothing is incorrect with it or even more to commencement running diagnostics or experimenting with various possible solutions when you lot see the feared "service engine shortly" low-cal turn on. Just, that's what you get for being a responsible automobile-possessor. Or, is it?
In that location is an alternative to those annoying "accept a peek at it" vehicle labor expenses. And it costs nothing. The service engine low-cal comes on in your vehicle because the computer has diagnosed that something isn't quite right. When the calorie-free comes on, a code is stored as the reason for triggering the light. When yous take your automobile in to become it checked out, the mechanic hooks upwardly a lilliputian diagnostic computer to your vehicle's calculator. They will then get a code and description that tells them what the upshot is.
OBD-II: A Background on Motorcar Diagnostic Codes
Every vehicle recently sold in the United States has an onboard diagnostic system that self-diagnoses a diverseness of vehicle issues through the vehicle's diagnostic computer. The connector to this diagnostic arrangement is called OBD-II (on-board diagnostic, version ii) and it is standardized for every vehicle sold in the U.s.a., 1996 and newer. When your on-board computer detects a problem, information technology outputs a code through the output, and the lawmaking can exist read by an OBD-Ii code scanner, or reader.
OBD-2 codes, or PID's can help diagnose powertrain, emission, and other vehicle issues when diagnostic readings are out of accustomed ranges. You tin detect a list of OBD-II PIDs hither.
Bank check Engine Light: The Mechanic's Dirty Little Secret
What your mechanic probably won't tell you is that you really didn't need to shell out $100 merely for them to hook upwards an OBD-Ii scanner to check on the service engine light. Yous can get that for gratis at most auto-parts stores. I've had this done at NAPA and Advance Auto Parts. It costs zip. The automobile part stores comport these to cater to DIYers in hopes that they, in turn, buy the motorcar parts at their shop to brand the fix on their own. Information technology takes them 1 minute to practise this.
I was relieved to find out that the crusade for the light to go on in my car was a possible vapor leak coming from my gas cap, acquired past a weak spring in the cap. The gas cap costs $10. The shop tin besides reset the computer and so that if the problem persists, the light will come up on again. If it doesn't, problem stock-still.
In that location probably are some honest mechanics out there who won't accuse you for this. Merely adept luck finding ane (peradventure, asking if they offer a free check engine light scan and their response is a skilful measuring stick for an honest mechanic).
Purchase an OBD-2 Scanner
If you want to take things still a step further and not get to the auto parts store every time, y'all can purchase your own OBD-Ii scanner. Hither's the top selling universal OBD-Ii scanner on Amazon. And at that place'south a bluetooth-enabled OBD-II scanner for but $22. That's one-fifth what mechanics will accuse for just one bank check! Both of these scanners will requite y'all a description/pregnant, along with the bodily lawmaking number. Very easy. Are these scanners/readers a complete replacement for a skilful mechanic? Certainly non. Simply they certainly don't hurt to take effectually to save you some coin now and then.
Oh – another thing – supplant your car's air filter and get complimentary air to properly inflate your tires on your own – information technology'southward easy, and will save you a lot of money versus having a mechanic do it.
Cheque Engine Lite Discussion:
- What clever techniques have yous used to avert vehicle service fees?
- How much were you charged to have your auto 'looked at'?
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Source: https://20somethingfinance.com/the-service-engine-light-your-mechanics-dirty-little-secret/
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