We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. The check engine light is one of those dashboard warning lights drivers dread to see suddenly come on in the middle of driving. First-time car ...

While your car can’t talk, it communicates with you using chimes, icons, and messages. One icon that you should never ignore is the check engine light. It turns on when the car’s onboard computer ...

You’re driving along in your car or truck and suddenly a yellow light illuminates on your dash telling you to check or service your engine. If you’re like most car owners, you have little idea about ...

As great as cars can be for getting where you need to go as quickly as possible, they have some drawbacks. Most notable are the repairs that tend to come along with them, which can be every bit as ...

The check engine light means one of your car’s systems is malfunctioning. If it’s flashing, pull over as soon as you safely can. If it’s steady, follow these simple steps. Many, or all, of the ...

When the check engine light comes on in a vehicle, it’s indicating that there is some issue with the car that should be checked out. It could be something minor, such as the gas cap not being screwed ...

Although commonly referred to as the “check-engine light,” some cars may instead display the message “Service Engine Soon,” or show a yellow or orange outline of an engine, perhaps with the word ...

Ignoring a check engine light might feel harmless if the car still runs smoothly, but the warning signals more than a minor inconvenience. Driving with that light on can lead to higher repair costs, ...

One of a Times Square-like array of instrument panel lights that flash on briefly when your car starts – and it's sure to cost you money if it stays on – is the “check engine” icon. For the ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Jim Gorzelany is a veteran automotive journalist. With both new-car prices and fuel costs on the rise, today’s motorists are ...