Check-engine & warning lights
A light came on and the car seems fine. Or it does not. Either way, the light is the car asking for someone to look.
What the lights are telling you
Tap the one that sounds like your car and the booking form starts with it filled in.
Solid check-engine light
The engine computer has stored a fault. Usually not an emergency, but worth getting read before it becomes one.
Book for thisFlashing check-engine light
Usually a misfire bad enough to damage the catalytic converter. Drive gently and get it in soon.
Book for thisLight after filling up
A loose or worn gas cap is a common, cheap cause. Tighten it and give it a few drives.
Book for thisLight plus a symptom
Rough running, hesitation, a smell or a noise together with the light helps narrow it down fast.
Book for thisOil or temperature light
Red oil-pressure or temperature lights mean stop safely and shut the engine off. Then call.
Book for thisBattery or charging light
Often the alternator or battery. The car may run until the battery drains, so do not wait long.
Book for this
The code is a clue, not the answer
Reading a car’s engine computer gives a code that points at a system, like a misfire on one cylinder or a lean mixture. It does not say which part failed.
Finding the cause means checking what the code points at. That is the difference between replacing the right part and guessing.
When you book, tell RT
The booking form asks for this in plain words. No car talk needed.
Book a drop-off- Is the light solid or flashing?
- When it came on, and whether anything changed (fuel up, a pothole, a cold morning)
- Any other lights on the dash
- How the car feels: normal, rough, weak, or smelly