What do you do when your Check Engine light turns on? Ignore it and hope it goes away? Try to find and fix the problem yourself, or do you take your vehicle to a San Pedro car repair and service center?

Common Causes of a Check Engine Light
We've all seen the Check Engine light and other warning lights on the instrument panel of our cars illuminate at one time or another, but most of us don't know what causes them to turn on in the first place.

Your car has many different sensors that continuously monitor all critical vehicle systems. When a failure is sensed in any of these systems, a Check Engine light comes on to alert you of the problem. Some of the common causes of a Check Engine light:
* The gas cap is not tightened properly
* A problem with the emission system, such as a malfunctioning catalytic converter or clogged exhaust
* Old spark plugs that cause the engine to misfire
* Faulty sensors, such as anti-lock brake sensors
* Blown fuses
* Low oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, or anti-freeze
* Defective alternator
* Faulty battery

All of the reasons that can cause a Check Engine light to come on are too numerous to list. So, what do you need to know?

Obey Check Engine Light "Traffic Signals"
Treat your Check Engine light and other warning lights in your car like traffic signals. Follow these Check Engine light tips to know when you need professional automotive assistance from the San Pedro car repair pros:
* Solid Yellow Light: Proceed with caution. This type of Check Engine light is probably not an emergency, especially if it seems like the engine is running smoothly. Try shutting down the engine and restarting it a few times to see if the Check Engine light goes out. It could be something as simple as a sensor taking too long to respond due to cold temperatures. If the Check Engine light stays on, take your vehicle to the San Pedro car repair specialists for a Check Engine light "check-up."
* Blinking Yellow Light: Attend to the problem soon. This type of Check Engine light usually means your engine is misfiring, which can irreparably damage the very costly catalytic converter. Drive cautiously and make an appointment with your San Pedro car repair center as soon as possible. This early warning sign can save you from expensive repairs.
* Red Light: Stop driving as soon as possible. Continuing to drive with this type of Check Engine light on can cause severe damage to your engine. A red Check Engine light is typically the result of low fluids or problems with the electrical system. Of course, the best thing to do is to let the leading San Pedro car repair center investigate the problem with our state-of-the-art diagnostic tools. Our trained San Pedro diagnostics technicians will make the necessary repairs so your vehicle is safe to drive.

Don't Ignore a Check Engine Light!
Depending on the type of problem, a sensor that causes a Check Engine light to come on can cause your vehicle to begin operating on a predetermined emergency program that can result in poor engine performance, decreased mileage, and increased emissions. By ignoring a Check Engine light, you risk doing permanent damage to your vehicle that could have been prevented if our San Pedro diagnostics and car repair experts could have inspected and fixed the problem at the first sign of trouble.

But you don't have to wait until the Check Engine light illuminates! Get your car serviced by the San Pedro car repair professionals with regularly scheduled visits to help you avoid surprises. Call 310.831.2888 or make an appointment online at http://www.parkplazaautomotive.com.