It is easy to ignore your Jeep Grand Wagoneer L’s Check Engine Light if your car can still drive, but doing so can lead to significant issues over time. The Check Engine Light coming on signals that a fault has been detected by your vehicle’s computer and requires attention. This fault can have consequences that include a rough-running engine, poor fuel economy, a dying battery, failed smog tests, and other potential problems that may result in expensive repairs such as having to replace the catalytic converters.
If the Check Engine Light is on, that means there are fault codes stored in the engine’s computer. Thankfully, it is easy to see what these codes are with many OBD-II code scanners. Most auto parts stores will also scan for codes free of charge. You can use our OBD-II code guide to find out what your codes mean. It is important to remember that just because a code is stored for a certain part doesn’t always mean the part should be replaced. Many sensors will trigger a fault if a reading is out of range, meaning that the sensor may be operating just fine, it is just detecting something wrong. The Check Engine Light is most commonly triggered for issues in the emission system, but can also mean issues in the ignition system, engine timing system, transmission, and more. Codes from a Check Engine Light should be treated as just one part of a complete diagnostic process.
When the Check Engine Light (CEL) comes on it means there is a fault detected by your car’s diagnostics which may be related to the engine, transmission, or emission system. The technician will use a scanner that connects to the vehicle’s diagnostic port to determine the specific trouble codes that have been revealed by the Check Engine Light. From these codes, the technician can identify the specific fault to diagnose underlying problems and provide you with an estimate of the cost of repairs.
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