Walnut Creek Auto Repair

Seeing your Ford’s computer turn on the check engine light is not a fun moment. Fortunately, it does not automatically mean major problems or expensive repairs. If the light is steady, not blinking, and the vehicle drives normally, you can get back home and call your trusted mechanic to make an appointment. If the check engine light is blinking, it is recommended that you pull over as soon as it is safe to do so, and turn off the engine. We recommend getting your Ford towed to a Walnut Creek mechanic – if you drive your vehicle while the check engine light is blinking, it is likely to cause expensive damage. Fortunately, many of causes of the check engine light (and there are thousands of conditions that can trigger this light) do not involve major repairs. As a matter of fact, out of top 10 causes of the check engine light, only catalytic converter replacement is a major expense. Another two – gas cap replacement and spark plugs replacement – are to be expecte ... read more

Why does your Toyota suddenly turn on the check engine light? The simple answer is that it encountered a condition that the onboard computer systems cannot correct – and so it’s warning you of a problem. NOTE: if the check engine light is blinking, you should pull over when it’s safe to do so and turn off the engine. Tow the vehicle to a repair shop. There are plenty of conditions that the onboard computers can handle. Modern cars are “self-tuning” – that’s why you rarely hear the term “tune up” anymore. Dozens of sensors monitor various subsystem and provide computers with information necessary to act. For example, mass airflow sensor measures air entering the engine, while the oxygen sensor measures the amount of un-burned oxygen in the exhaust  - that information allows the ECU (engine control unit) to on-thy-fly adjust the air-fuel mixture that’s sent into the engine. The check engine light can be turned on because ... read more