Rev up those RPMs with a little TLC from John’s Auto
For example, our client Kelly had a Ford Taurus that was still under warranty. The Check Engine Light was on, but the dealer couldn’t figure out what the problem was. She brought it to us, and we determined that the water pump was bad. It was leaking and loose, and because it was attached to the timing chain, it was throwing off the timing of the engine. That caused a whole ripple effect of issues, including three diagnostic codes in the engine’s computer. Once we were done, the car was running perfectly again.
My Check Engine Light Is On. What Should I Do?
There are so many lights on your car’s dashboard today that it’s hard to decipher them all, let alone know what to do when one comes on. Your instinct might be to pull over and shut the car off. But if your alternator or battery light is on, that could be signaling an issue with the alternator or battery or both. If you turn the engine off, you might not be able to restart it.
Here’s our advice:
If a light comes on indicating low oil pressure, a high engine temperature or low coolant, pull off the road and turn off the engine as soon as you can do so safely. Ignoring any of these lights could lead to very costly engine damage.
If another light comes on that you don’t recognize, we recommend pulling over safely and looking up the warning light in your owner’s manual. This will give you an idea of how urgent the matter is. You can also call the team at John’s Auto Service. (Sometimes looking up information in your owner’s manual is like finding a needle in a haystack!)
What to do next?
- Drive directly to our repair shop if the Check Engine light is flashing, if it’s a battery or alternator light, or if you have three or more warning lights on.
- Schedule an appointment when you can if you have a Check Engine or Service Engine Soon light that isn’t flashing or if the warning is for airbags, ABS, traction control, air suspension, low coolant temperature, maintenance due, etc.
- Check and adjust the tire pressure if it’s a low tire or Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) light. In some cars, you can reset the light on your own. In other cars, you may need to bring it in to us to have the light reset.
What Diagnostic or Engine Performance Services Do You Offer?
We don’t shy away from challenging diagnostic problems. Whether your vehicle is 3 years old or 33 years old, we can help with:
- ABS Issues (Anti-lock Brakes)
- Airbags and Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS)
- ‘Check Engine’ or ‘Service Engine Soon’ Diagnostics
- Electrical Problems
- Emissions Failures
- Engine Performance Issues
- Engine Mechanical Repairs
- Traction Control
Why Should I Choose John’s Auto Service Instead of the Dealer?
Did we mention that we regularly solve driveability problems the dealer can’t solve?
John and Johnny both have a gift for diagnostics. When John worked for Goodyear, he was appointed the official troubleshooter for four area Goodyear shops. His job was to diagnose cars all day, every day.
Between his talent and our computerized scan tools, we haven’t met a car yet that we couldn’t diagnose.