本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛Engine Light with the Personal Mechanic
Here is the scenario: You are driving your car in your regular manner and all of a sudden, the "Check Engine" Light comes on. What does it mean? In fact, the check engine light can be alerting you to any number of potential engine problems. Until now, the only course of action would be to take the car into a mechanic or dealership. A mechanic would then examine the car's chip and determine the source of the problem. In cars that are out of warranty, this must be done at one's own expense. Furthermore, the checkup will only identify the source of the problem. It will still need to be fixed, another expense.
Why Vehicles Have Check Engine Lights
Two changes in the automotive industry have made car ownership more complicated than it ever was before. The introduction of electronic fuel injection and the advent of onboard computers have seen the automobile change from a machine that functions mechanically to one that is operated electronically. This has allowed great performance and efficiency advances as cars now produce far fewer emissions than ever before. However, it has also eliminated most do-it-yourself mechanical solutions. Engines are now sophisticated devices and mechanics require specialized knowledge to perform their job. When the check engine light comes on, it is alerting you not to check the engine but to check in with your mechanic who can download the data from your car's computer and determine the source of the problem.
Check Engine Light Problems
The trouble with the check engine light is that often it is engaged when there is simply nothing wrong with the engine at all. The light might come on because the gas tank cap is not properly closed or the dipstick is pushed in to tightly. Such things can affect vacuum pressure, affect the idle rate and trigger the engine light. Bad gas or filling up the engine while the car is running will also trigger the check engine light. Of course, the codes that these problems generate will alert a mechanic to the problem but they do not require the attention of a mechanic to fix.
Emissions Related Problems
If there are actual problems with the engine, the most common cause of the check engine light is emissions related. In the best-case scenario, you will need to replace a vacuum hose. O2 sensors and airflow censors carry a moderate expense while replacing a catalytic converter is likely to set you back well over $1,000.
Transmission Related Problems
Transmission problems can activate the check engine light. This problem can usually be corrected by flushing the transmission system and replacing the transmission fluid. This is typically an inexpensive procedure but the price will vary depending on your mechanic. If the transmission system is beyond repair, then a new transmission is a rather expensive purchase. The price will depend on the model and mechanics fees. Replacing the transmission is the second most expensive problem that the check engine light can indicate and thankfully, it is rarely needed. By far the biggest engine problem that the check engine light will be indicative of is a failing engine. If the engine is getting ready to fail, you might want to weigh the costs of purchasing a new engine against the costs of replacing your vehicle. Your decision should depend largely upon your budget and any other mechanical problems that your car might have.
Who Can Help
Now the good news, the engine codes that are generated by the computer need not remain an indecipherable mystery. Your mechanic is able to access them and so are you. Personal Mechanic is a device that you can plug into your vehicles OBDII port (under your steering wheel) that allows you to monitor your engine's performance and will help you decode engine error codes regardless of carmaker. All you need is the Personal Mechanic and access to a computer with Microsoft Windows or compatible. When the check engine light comes on, you simply unplug your "Personal Mechanic" from the OBDII port and plug it into your computer's USB port. Next, go to the corresponding website. Once your browser is on the right page, you use your user name and password to login and the website will download the data from your Personal Mechanic unit and report the problem back to you. You will know why your check engine light came on and if it is a problem that you need to be concerned about. It will be able to give you a clear idea of what the repairs are likely to cost.
The Most Cost Effective Check Engine Light Solution
The Personal Mechanic can save you money in a number of ways. First, it will let you know if your vehicle is really experiencing any engine problems. The check engine light comes on for a variety of problems and if it is something as simple as an uncapped gas tank, you would feel pretty foolish taking it into the mechanic. It saves you a trip and a car checkup for all the times that the check engine light comes on when nothing is wrong with the engine. The Personal Mechanic can also save you money by identifying the precise problem that has occurred. This ensures that you only get the mechanical attention that your car needs when you need it. Yet another way that the Personal Mechanic can save a car owner money is by monitoring other potential problems as they are developing. If you take your car in for a new vacuum hose but your Personal Mechanic reports of other problems that are developing, then you might want to take care of all of the problems in a single visit. It can save a great deal of money in labor costs.
What to do When Your Check Engine Light Comes On
While seeing the check engine light come on for the first time can be alarming, it is not always a serious problem. Most of the time, it is something simple that can be corrected with minor expense. Whatever the case, the Personal Mechanic will let you know before you visit the mechanic. You can save yourself the time and expense of making unnecessary trips and you can save yourself the worry while you wait to discover what is wrong with your car. All it takes is a Personal Mechanic, a computer with Microsoft Windows and an Internet connection.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net