Imagine you’re in the middle of your daily commute and the check engine light suddenly illuminates your Nissan’s driver information screen. Maybe you don’t have to imagine because it’s happened to you. Nobody ever wants to see the check engine light, but it happens. If you’ve been fortunate never to witness this fault, you’re one of the lucky ones. Don’t worry, though. We had our maintenance experts put together some helpful information about your check engine light, what it means, and what you should do if you see it. So, if it does turn on, you’ll know what to do and not do.

The check engine light in your Nissan looks like an engine and glows orange on your dashboard. It’s one of many warning indicator lights located there. When you start your vehicle, you can see all these indicator lights. But after your car starts running, they turn off until a fault occurs. Depending on the year and model, the icon could have subtle changes. In some vehicles, for instance, the word “CHECK” appears beneath the engine. However, in others, you might see a lightning bolt as well.

Various circumstances can trigger the check engine light in your Nissan. Some are innocuous, while others are harmful to your engine. For example, you could not have tightened your fuel cap properly at your last fill-up. This allows air into the fuel system, triggering an oxygen sensor and illuminating the warning light. The fault is relatively minor and won’t cause severe damage immediately. The oxygen sensor helps regulate your engine’s air-to-fuel ratio for optimal combustion. However, more air in the system could result in lower emissions and poor performance, so you’ll want to correct the issue soon. However, you might have a situation such as a low oil level. The oil in your engine protects the many moving parts against the heat and friction the combustion process produces. Inadequate oil levels could damage these parts and result in costly repairs. In some circumstances, you might have to replace the entire engine.

You have a serious problem if your check engine light flashes. We recommend you pull over and shut off your Nissan’s engine right away if this occurs. Then, call a tow truck and have your car brought to our Norwood service center and have one of our certified technicians assess the issue. Several things can cause the check engine light to flash. For example, you might have a faulty oxygen sensor, a failed catalytic converter, or a malfunction in your emissions system. In addition, a misfire in your engine causes the flashing check engine light. A misfire occurs when one or more cylinders fail to operate, resulting in engine power loss. If this happens, you’ll feel your Nissan struggle to accelerate or idle smoothly. Shaking or vibrating occurs when a cylinder misfires and the smooth purr of your engine sounds labored. A faulty fuel injection system can cause misfires by providing the incorrect air-fuel mixture. Or old spark plugs or a poorly timed engine could cause your Nissan’s ignition system to misfire. Gaskets on your cylinders also fail over time, allowing air to leak in and fuel out, causing misfires.

The answer to this question depends on why the light turned on in the first place. Unfortunately, you can’t tell what caused the light to turn on without a proper inspection. You can purchase a diagnostic tool that plugs into your car’s onboard computer and reads the error codes. These tools cost less than $100 and can give you an idea. However, you might see several possible codes, which makes assessing the issue more challenging. We recommend pulling over and listening to your engine idle. If it sounds normal, check the gas cap. If you have a loose or missing gas cap, that could have caused the fault. Tighten the gas cap and continue driving. Usually, the oxygen sensor will turn off after you tighten the loose gas cap that triggered it. However, if the light remains on after a few miles, you could have a more severe problem. In that case, bring your car to a qualified mechanic for proper diagnosis and repair. But if you experience any of the misfiring symptoms listed above, don’t continue driving. Instead, pull over in a safe place, shut your engine off, and call for assistance.

Unless you’re a professional mechanic, diagnosing the problem isn’t simple. Too many situations can cause the check engine light to turn on. Without the proper tools and equipment, it’s challenging to determine an appropriate diagnosis. Therefore, we suggest you schedule service online or bring your Nissan to our service center. Our factory-certified technicians have the tools, equipment, and expertise to diagnose and fix the issue quickly.

You never want to ignore any warning indicator, particularly the check engine light. Your engine has complicated electronic, hydraulic, and mechanical parts that work together to produce the power necessary to propel your vehicle. You don’t want to risk damaging any of these parts by ignoring a fault light, or you could end up stranded by the side of the road or, worse, in need of costly repairs.

Taking proper care of your car can help prevent your check engine light from ever turning on. Most of the causes for this fault indicator light happen because drivers failed to perform routine maintenance, such as oil changes, spark plug replacements, etc. You can bring your Nissan to our service center for a complimentary multi-point inspection. Your technician will assess your Nissan’s primary parts and systems and often discover issues before they become costly repairs.

Whether your Nissan’s check engine light has turned on or you want to schedule routine maintenance, our state-of-the-art service center on Boston Providence Highway in Norwood stands ready to help. In addition, we’ve streamlined the process with our online service scheduler. However, you can stop by any time to our Express Service for fast, convenient, expert service.