The orange light that suddenly turns on on the dashboard and you do not know what it is, is not there to annoy you or scare you, it is called check engine, and your car is trying to tell you something. The good news is that today you no longer have to rush to the shop at the first sign, and with a small OBD2 reader and your phone, you can know in minutes what is going on. Careful, understand it, because you are not a mechanic to fix it!
What is “check engine”
Your car is already almost a computer on wheels, it has sensors everywhere, it monitors emissions, the engine, the electronic parts. So, when something stops working, the system notes it and turns on a warning. That light turns on for literally anything, a poorly closed gas cap, or for more serious things.
And what is OBD2?
A system that almost all cars have built in, it has a port (usually under the dashboard) where you can connect a reader that, together with an app, shows you the exact error your car is experiencing. A first diagnosis so you know what to tell your trusted mechanic.
And what does the OBD2 tell you?
Basically, the reader tells you which system is failing, and confirms whether you can keep driving or not, but it does not point out the exact part that needs to be changed nor does it fix anything by itself, and of course it does not replace professional help in any case.
Clear and move on
That is what many people do, they see the code, press the clear errors button and forget that there was a problem there, but the spoiler is that it does not get solved that way.
And even less if you have to pass an inspection because the systems remain unchecked.
What readers most people use
There are many on the market, but drivers usually use simple readers, with clear and updated apps, there are also many designed for beginners and others give more data if you like to tinker with your car’s internals.
And security?
Let’s see, many people here tremble at the thought of connecting something electronic to your car, remember that your car itself can already be hackable and they have not done it, right? In the same way we recommend that you use well known brands and that you do not leave the reader plugged in permanently, a bit of common sense will not hurt.
Can I keep driving or should I stop?
- Steady light: usually not urgent. Check the code and plan a visit to the shop.
- Flashing light: usually indicates a serious fault that can damage the engine.
Knowing the code helps you decide calmly and avoid major breakdowns.
Useful if you know how to use it
Like everything in life, having an OBD2 scanner is like having a car to human translator, it saves you time, spares you unnecessary scares and allows you to talk to your mechanic knowing what is wrong with your car.
Remember to use it to inform yourself and not ignore the codes that appear, because it is going to be your new best friend!