Instead, mice had gotten under the hood and had chewed some of the wires leading to it. But if he had, he would have wasted time and money because it turned out that the sensor was fine. He thought about buying the sensor and installing it himself. His code reader detected a code for the cam angle sensor. His wife's car started running poorly, and there was a check engine light. With the code and its meaning in hand, a do-it-yourself interpretation can still be a little tricky - even if you are mechanically inclined, as we found out from one of our colleagues. Possible false flags from a check engine code Just keep in mind that you'll have to figure out where your car's OBD-II port is (typically somewhere in the driver footwell) and get comfortable with plugging in and operating the code reader. A code reader can provide car owners with one more data point to help them talk with their mechanic and avoid costly or unnecessary auto repairs. "If the mechanic gives you the same information, at least you know they are going down the right road," he notes. Mazor says that an inexpensive check engine code reader could be useful for car owners even if they aren't mechanically inclined. Modern systems will display the code in an app on your smartphone. ![]() Do-it-yourselfers can buy code readers from an auto parts store or online that connect to the onboard diagnostics (OBD) port and search for the code's meaning on websites such as Engine Light Help. Your local mechanic can usually diagnose the problem for about an hour of labor.īut there's a way to preview what the problem might be. It is not an indicator of trouble like the check engine light is. The service required light just means the car is due for an oil change or other routine care. Some drivers might confuse the service required or maintenance required light on the gauge cluster for the check engine light. How to decipher the check engine light with a code reader In such cases, the light should go off by itself after a short time. It could be a temporary problem caused by a change in humidity or other factors. Occasionally, the check engine light comes on when nothing is wrong with the car, said Steve Mazor, retired chief automotive engineer for the Auto Club of Southern California. Reprogram powertrain control module (PCM): $109.22 Replace evaporative emissions (EVAP) canister purge control valve: $137.47ġ0. Inspect for loose fuel cap and tighten or replace: $24.84Ħ. Replace ignition coil(s) and spark plug(s): $392.65ĥ. For 2023, CarMD's top 10 check engine codes are:ġ. Most common reasons why the check engine light comes onĬarMD, an automotive telematics company, publishes an annual Vehicle Health Index that compiles the 10 most common check engine codes, along with their estimated cost of repair.
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