A Few Facts ...

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1. In 1969, Volkswagen introduced the first on-board computer system with scanning capability in its fuel-injected Type 3 models.
2. 82% of U.S. adults who own or lease a vehicle are more focused on extending the life of their current vehicle than they have been with past vehicles, according to 2010 CarMD / Harris Interactive survey.
3. Top reasons adult car owners have put off repairs include: lack of money (65%), lack of time (34%), didn’t think it was serious (28%) and afraid to find out what the problem was (12%).
4. 80% of vehicles are in need of service or repairs right now; more than 9 million U.S. drivers alone have ignored their car’s “check engine” light for three months or more.
5. The #1 reason for “check engine” problems is a faulty oxygen (O2) sensor, which can reduce your gas mileage by 40%.
6. You will not pass a state emissions test if you have a “check engine” light on.

Why Is It There?

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Check engine light technology is found on all vehicles manufactured for use in the U.S. since 1996 and Canada since 1998 because of government mandates to lower emissions. Often called on board diagnostics, second generation (OBD2 or OBD-II), the check engine light is part of a sophisticated program in your vehicle’s on-board computer that is constantly checking information from engine to transmission sensors to look for emissions-related problems. It’s found on more than 220 million vehicles in North America, and covers about 80% of the systems on most cars, light trucks, SUVs and minivans.

A blinking or flashing check engine light indicates a more severe problem that is doing mechanical damage to your car and should not be ignored! When this occurs, it’s best to limit your driving and have the problem diagnosed as soon as possible.

Here are the top 10 most common types of vehicle failures for 2010. These results are derived from CarMD’s Vehicle Health Index™ rankings and reports.

RANK	TYPE OF VEHICLE FAILURE FOR 2010	PERCENTAGE
1	Engine Misfire	13.8%
2	Evaporative Emissions System Leak	8.3%
3	System Too Lean	6.7%
4	Evaporative Emissions System Failure	5.7%
5	Catalytic Converter Failure	4.0%
6	Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) System Failure	3.8%
7	Oxygen (O2) Sensor Failure	3.4%
8	Coolant Thermostat Failure	2.5%
9	Mass Air Flow Sensor (MAF) Failure	1.6%
10	Camshaft Position Sensor (CMP) Failure	0.9%

Today’s cars have more computer chips and warning lights than Apollo 11. So, how do you decipher between the Service Vehicle Soon and the Check Engine light, and why should they be important to you?

Here are the top 5 most common “check engine” light repairs, according to CarMD’s repair database. Most of these repairs have more to do with durability problems than faulty parts.

Let’s face it, drivers are holding onto their cars longer than ever before, which is why it’s so important to fix small problems before they result in more expensive repairs.

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1. The no. 1 most common fix is “replace Oxygen Sensor.” The O2 sensor monitors the amount of unburned oxygen in the exhaust and tells your car’s computer when there is either too much, or not enough fuel. So what’s it mean to you? A faulty O2 sensor costs less than $200 to fix but can lead to as much as a 40 percent reduction in gas mileage if ignored.
2. The no. 2 most common repair is “replace loose, damaged or missing gas cap.” Simply tightening the cap for free or replacing it for a couple dollars is the fix, but if left unchecked can result in a 0.5% decrease in gas mileage and harm the environment.
3. “Replace catalytic converter(s)” is now the no. 3 most common car repair, but it shouldn’t even be in the top 10. A catalytic converter usually won’t fail unless a related part – such as a faulty spark plug – is ignored for too long. This is a great example of why it’s so important to address small problems early. A damaged catalytic converter will cost $1,000 bucks or more to fix.
4. The no. 4 most common repair is “replace the Mass Air Flow Sensor.” The MAF sensor is responsible for calculating the air coming into your car and determining how much fuel to shoot into the engine. When malfunctioning, it can lower MPG by 10 to 25%. It costs about $375 to fix, but is vital to saving dollars at the pump.
5. The small but mighty spark plug is no. 5. Responsible for igniting a car’s air/fuel ratio, spark plugs are essential. When they fail, they can cause a “misfire,” reduce gas mileage, and ultimately melt/ruin your catalytic converter. If you do it yourself, replacing a spark plug can cost under $10. Having it done by certified mechanic costs a couple hundred dollars, but can save you thousands.

It is not recommended for drivers to turn off their vehicle’s “check engine” light until the pending or current problem has been identified and repairs confirmed. Doing so erases valuable information that may be needed to repair the vehicle, including driving conditions when the light came on. It would be similar to ripping a page out of your medical chart. The computer holds necessary information designed to fix (or cure) the vehicle’s ailment. Once the correct repair is made (by you or a qualified automotive technician), your vehicle will run its tests and often turn off the “check engine” light on its own. This may take longer than when a mechanic does it, but that is a safety feature that CarMD has purposely included to protect you and your vehicle.