Anyone with a car will be familiar with that infamous check engine light.
It is the one that pops up as a symbol or a visible warning that reads service engine soon.
But what does it mean, especially when your vehicle seems to be running well?
"I would say about 40 per cent of the time it's the gas cap,'' said Max Chang a mechanic with Hu Automotive.
That would be a gas cap that is either loose, defective or missing all together.
So if the light is on, drivers are advised to pull over and take the gas cap off.
Once the gas cap is removed, they should also look it over to make sure the rubber seal is okay, then put it back on. That may take care of the problem.
However, drivers should know that it can take up to a couple of days for the light to go out.
Max Chang says there is another reason the check engine light can go on.
It may be that the gas tank is too full. So drivers are advised not to top it up.
"Wait until the first click and that's it, don't over fill your gas,'' said Chang.
"The gas will go right through the carbon canister and trigger the light to come on."
Now if the light is on and the car is running rough, it's time to pull over and call a tow truck.
A mechanic will hook up a special code reader, and the vehicle then tells him what is wrong with it.
There are some other warning lights that flag a serious problem.
"If the low oil pressure or overheating indicator lights are on, your car does need immediate attention,'' said Jon Linkov of Consumer Reports. "Pull over and shut off the engine,'' he said.
And for your own safety, never ignore the brake light if it comes on.
GM vehicles equipped with Onstar offer an advantage when it comes to the check engine light. Car owners can call Onstar to find out what the problem is while you're out on the road.
With a report by CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen
