Anyone with knowledge of cars mind giving me a few tips and things to look at for why my truck's Check Engine Light came on?

Was driving tonight home from a friends house and halfway home my engine light came on. Getting worried I pulled off at the next exit and checked it out.

I just replaced all three belts in it not even 2 days ago and changed the oil the same day. So I checked all my belts to see if they were fine, and they were. And my oil is a little over half full, I ran out of oil before I filled it. But I plan on buying another thing or two.

But I couldn't find anything wrong at all. No odd smells, like burning or anything. The engine sounded normal and everything. And my transmission fluid is fine, and even if it isn't I was going to take it in this weekend to a shop and have them completely change out the fluid.

I don't know anything about cars but I couldn't find anything wrong or out of the normal. It still runs fine. Accelerates fine and everything. I never went faster then 65 after I saw the light go on, but I could easily have accelerated to 100 if I wanted to. So it still ran like normal.

But any tips or suggestions you guys can give me before I take it in and waste a few hundred?

Yeah, I did that a few times before I got on the freeway to continue heading home.

If you read my original post, you would see that I indeed changed my oil not even two days ago.

Well it could be a lot of things. Did you make sure your gas cap is on all the way? That will make your check engine light come on.

B0LTJ3S wrote:Well it could be a lot of things. Did you make sure your gas cap is on all the way? That will make your check engine light come on.

yeah the check engine light doesn't necessarily mean the problem is with your engine. It can mean any number of sensor or electrical component isn't quite working right or like Bolt said could just be the gas cap is ajar.

They should really change the name of the light to the "yo something isn't quite right" light.

There's a lot of places that do diagnostic tests for free, I know Autozone does, they just have to plug something in and it tells them what's wrong. No way anyone could get away with charging a couple of hundred for that.


It's usually not something you can clearly see so just go find somewhere you can get it checked for free.

HydrasBreath wrote:

B0LTJ3S wrote:Well it could be a lot of things. Did you make sure your gas cap is on all the way? That will make your check engine light come on.

yeah the check engine light doesn't necessarily mean the problem is with your engine. It can mean any number of sensor or electrical component isn't quite working right or like Bolt said could just be the gas cap is ajar.

They should really change the name of the light to the "yo something isn't quite right" light.

Yeah. Always check the cap first. If that isn't it it could be anything...

sounds like you've got some Clink in the Stuffer Expander.

I've driven around with my check engine light on for a year now. Of course my car has almost 200k miles on it so that poor engine has seen some time.


The check engine light could mean a lot of things, fuel cap not on all the way, stuck O2 sensor. If you have a Auto Zone or Pep Boys or some other shop like that a lot of times they will hook their computer up to your car and it will tell you what is going on. The check Engine light can mean a ton of diferent things. Now.... If your check engine light comes on and starts flashing!!!! Thats when you pull over and turn your car off. Thats when something really is wrong.

>___> when mine came on,it wasn't too long after the head gasket blew out and bye bye truck lol too much money to fix,needed a new engine pretty much

I will tell you how to fix that stupid fucking light. I work at a NAPA store and I know a few things.

take a piece of black electric tape and tape over the light. That stupid light doesn't mean much about 80% of the time, and the other 20% you will know that something is wrong, because your vehicle will start to act up.

To get rid of it you have 2 options. Go to a Autozone or where ever and have them clear the codes on your car. or disconnect your battery for a couple hours and then reconnect it.

the light could mean anything from a oxygen sensor not reading correctly (will slightly effect MPGs), to a oil pressure sensor (which wont effect a thing)

DRGN LRD 1213 wrote:I've driven around with my check engine light on for a year now. Of course my car has almost 200k miles on it so that poor engine has seen some time.

Good point. You just reminded me the CEL has been on in my Jeep for nearly 5 years now.

Yeah one of the first things I checked was the gas cap. It wasn't that.

And DL my truck has almost 280k miles on it. So I might got you beat, minus the light being on for a year thing.

And I noticed last night the light was yellow. Yet this afternoon it was orange....that a bad thing? Still not flashing though

Terry Corp. wrote:I will tell you how to fix that stupid fucking light. I work at a NAPA store and I know a few things.

take a piece of black electric tape and tape over the light. That stupid light doesn't mean much about 80% of the time, and the other 20% you will know that something is wrong, because your vehicle will start to act up.

To get rid of it you have 2 options. Go to a Autozone or where ever and have them clear the codes on your car. or disconnect your battery for a couple hours and then reconnect it.

the light could mean anything from a oxygen sensor not reading correctly (will slightly effect MPGs), to a oil pressure sensor (which wont effect a thing)

This. I have done mechanic work for over 5 years, and this.

Are you sure it isn't actually your time-for-a-new-car light that came on?