CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON

Customer’s concern: “The CHECK Engine light on the dashboard is on. Why did it come on, and what I should do about it?” What’s happening and why: Acuras have computers that continually adjust vehicle performance, based on inputs from sensors, to keep emissions at a level that maintains a cleaner environment. The computers and the associated sensors comprise that  onboard diagnostic (OBD) system, which monitors ignition, fuel injection, and other emissions-control related systems and the transmission. When sensors detect conditions outside or specified values, they typically cause the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL), also called CHECK Engine light, to come on, indicating a potential problem. What can be done: Responding right away to the MIL may help prevent the need for big repairs later on. When the MIL comes on, you should call your dealerships service department about having your vehicle checked. The service advisor may ask you about drivability problems and the specific driving conditions when the light came on, such as air temperature and humidity, driving speed, type of road surface, and amount of acceleration and brake application. Also, the advisor needs to know of any unusual driving situations, such as the vehicle hitting a deep rut or pothole at high speed or driving through an area of standing water in the road. When the vehicle is brought in with the MIL on, a technician can identify the codes by using a handheld diagnostic tool that reports the values from sensors. Diagnosis, along with the information you provide, can help the technician repair you vehicle. On recent-model vehicles, one thing that caused the MIL to come on could be as simple as an overfilled fuel tank or an aftermarket or loose fuel fill cap. (The fuel fill cap must be tightened until it clicks at least three times, as stated on the Acura fuel fill cap). In these situations, after you eliminate the cause, the MIL may go off when you complete a minimum of three additional driving trips, as described in the owner’s manual. Further explanation: If the condition that caused the MIL to come on is still present, a technician can read the codes, correct the condition, erase the codes, and return the repaired vehicle to the customer with MIL no longer on. Sometimes, however, the cause of the MIL coming on may be an intermittent problem, and the technician may not have the data required to recreate the identical conditions. In that case, since the cause could not be identified, the vehicle would be returned with no repair being done.