{"id":835,"date":"2021-12-17T21:29:55","date_gmt":"2021-12-17T21:29:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/?p=835"},"modified":"2021-12-17T21:29:56","modified_gmt":"2021-12-17T21:29:56","slug":"service-engine-soon-light-what-to-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/engine\/service-engine-soon-light-what-to-do\/","title":{"rendered":"Service Engine Soon Light &#8211; What It Means and What to Do"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>One of the most important signals your car\u2019s dashboard has is the service engine soon light, which is run by a computer that turns the light on when some part of your engine is showing signs of weakened performance or trouble ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Engine-Soon-Light-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-836\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Engine-Soon-Light-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Engine-Soon-Light-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Engine-Soon-Light-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Engine-Soon-Light-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Engine-Soon-Light.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve never had the service engine soon light come on, you might not know what it means or what to do when it comes on for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, we aim to provide the necessary information to understand what this light signal means and what you can do to solve the underlying issue and get the light to turn off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_71 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\"><p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Contents<\/p>\n<\/div><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/engine\/service-engine-soon-light-what-to-do\/#What_is_the_Purpose_of_a_Service_Engine_Soon_Light\" title=\"What is the Purpose of a Service Engine Soon Light?\">What is the Purpose of a Service Engine Soon Light?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/engine\/service-engine-soon-light-what-to-do\/#What_the_Service_Engine_Soon_Light_Means\" title=\"What the Service Engine Soon Light Means\">What the Service Engine Soon Light Means<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/engine\/service-engine-soon-light-what-to-do\/#What_Causes_the_Service_Engine_Soon_Light_to_Come_On\" title=\"What Causes the Service Engine Soon Light to Come On?\">What Causes the Service Engine Soon Light to Come On?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/engine\/service-engine-soon-light-what-to-do\/#How_to_Fix_Service_Engine_Soon_Light\" title=\"How to Fix Service Engine Soon Light\">How to Fix Service Engine Soon Light<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/engine\/service-engine-soon-light-what-to-do\/#Service_Engine_Soon_Light_vs_Check_Engine_Light\" title=\"Service Engine Soon Light vs. Check Engine Light\">Service Engine Soon Light vs. Check Engine Light<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/engine\/service-engine-soon-light-what-to-do\/#FAQs\" title=\"FAQs\">FAQs<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_Purpose_of_a_Service_Engine_Soon_Light\"><\/span><a><\/a>What is the Purpose of a Service Engine Soon Light?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The purpose of a service engine soon light is to alert the driver that the car should be taken into an auto shop to service and fix part of the engine sooner rather than later. It looks like a light that says \u201cService Engine Soon\u201d or may feature an illustration of an engine. It is usually located in the dashboard of the car above the steering wheel in most brand models.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In many brands, the service engine soon light and the check engine light is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Kia, for example, it\u2019s a symbol of an engine with the words \u201cCheck Engine\u201d inside. Honda and Toyota are two other brand examples that use the same symbol for both. BMW, on the other hand, may show a half-full engine for moderate issues or a fully lit red engine for more serious matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The goal of the light is to avoid further damage that could harm the engine or the car as a whole, and in the worst case, render the car totaled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A service engine soon light can mean several different things, but we\u2019ll cover more on that later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Types of Service Engine Soon Lights<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There is only one kind of service engine soon light, and it\u2019s the light with this name. The only different \u201ctypes\u201d of this light that you\u2019ll see might be the color of the light and whether the light is blinking or solid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What the light means may vary, and the light usually doesn\u2019t show any further details so it is hard to know what the issue is without taking the car to a shop to be looked at by a professional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While some people may assume they know what kind of service engine soon light they\u2019re seeing, the only real way to know is by opening the hood to take a closer look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of the most common causes to see a service engine soon light include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>A loose gas cap<\/li><li>Faulty spark plugs or wires<\/li><li>Low fluids<\/li><li>Scheduled service<\/li><li>Failure of the <a href=\"https:\/\/auto.howstuffworks.com\/question257.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">oxygen sensors<\/a><\/li><li>Mass airflow failure<\/li><li>Faulty catalytic converter<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn more about these different causes of the service engine light later in this article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Can You Drive With a Service Engine Soon Light On?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In most cases, yes, you can drive safely with a service engine soon light. You should still plan on bringing your car in as soon as possible, but it\u2019s usually not the kind of scenario where you need to pull over or into the closest auto shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a general rule, you should try to bring your car in within the next 100 miles to avoid further damage to the engine since you don\u2019t know what\u2019s wrong with it yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the service engine soon light is a solid yellow or orange, it\u2019s usually not a super serious issue and you should be able to complete the drive you\u2019re on before taking it in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the light is red or is blinking, you should take that as a sign that the issue might be more serious and you should try to find the nearest auto shop that you trust to take a look and provide more insight on the matter before you decide whether to keep driving on it or to get it fixed there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When in doubt, your owner\u2019s manual might be able to shed some additional light on what the colors or blinking pattern of your service engine light mean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_the_Service_Engine_Soon_Light_Means\"><\/span><a><\/a>What the Service Engine Soon Light Means<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It could be any one of these issues, however, this list is not exhaustive. It could also be something else, so while you may be tempted to put on your mechanic\u2019s hat and try to solve the issue yourself, you should opt to bring it to an expert to ensure you\u2019re diagnosing the right problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>When it stays on &#8211; the issue is consistent but may not be urgent<\/li><li>When it turns on and off randomly &#8211; it\u2019s an intermittent problem that isn\u2019t constant, like faulty sensors<\/li><li>When it\u2019s flashing or blinking &#8211; the problem is severe and needs professional help quick<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Certain car brands\u2019 service engine soon lights may have different features, such as flashing, or turning colors, or even showing half the light illuminated, like in BMWs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Causes_the_Service_Engine_Soon_Light_to_Come_On\"><\/span><a><\/a>What Causes the Service Engine Soon Light to Come On?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It could be any one of these issues, however, this list is not exhaustive. It could also be something else, so while you may be tempted to put on your mechanic\u2019s hat and try to solve the issue yourself, you should opt to bring it to an expert to ensure you\u2019re diagnosing the right problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Low Fluid or Scheduled Service<\/strong> &#8211; If you\u2019re a bit behind on your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/article\/loans\/auto-loans\/cut-car-maintenance-costs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">scheduled oil change and service<\/a>, the light is likely to come on. This is usually not something extremely urgent, but you should try to bring it in within a few days.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>New Spark Plugs<\/strong> &#8211; One possibility is that you need new spark plugs. Spark plugs ignite the mixture of air and fuel that is needed in the engine. If you need new spark plugs, you may notice reduced mileage, less acceleration in your car, hard starts, and a rough idle in addition to your service engine soon light turning on.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Loose or Faulty Gas Ca<\/strong>p &#8211; The first thing you should check for with a service engine soon light is a loose gas cap. It can increase emissions and reduce your mileage, and it\u2019s an easy fix.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Mass Airflow Sensor Failure<\/strong> &#8211; This sensor tells your car how much fuel it needs, and if the sensor isn\u2019t working, the car can have a hard time starting or accelerating from idle. You can still drive with this issue, but you should fix it as quickly as you can.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Oxygen Sensor Failure<\/strong> &#8211; If your car is producing too much oxygen in its exhaust, it\u2019s running rich, and if it&#8217;s not producing enough, it\u2019s running lean. When this level is off, things with your car can get bad quickly, so act fast and bring it to an auto shop.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Faulty Catalytic Converter <\/strong>&#8211; A car\u2019s catalytic converter converts the chemicals created by ignition into less harmful chemicals for the environment. If this item is failing, your temperature gauge may come on, your car may not perform as usual, and your mileage may decrease.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"612\" src=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Engine-Soon-Light-2-1024x612.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-837\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Engine-Soon-Light-2-1024x612.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Engine-Soon-Light-2-300x179.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Engine-Soon-Light-2-768x459.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Engine-Soon-Light-2-1536x919.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Engine-Soon-Light-2.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Fix_Service_Engine_Soon_Light\"><\/span><a><\/a>How to Fix Service Engine Soon Light<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If your service engine light is on, here\u2019s what to do:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>First, Check the Color and Pattern<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Is the light yellow or orange? Then the issue is probably not quite as severe. Is it red? Then that may call for more urgent attention. Additionally, if the light is blinking, you should have a professional take a look as soon as you can. Noticing these properties will help you decide what to do and how to fix it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Next, Have an Expert Diagnose the Issue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Bring your car into an auto shop so they can tell you what the issue is. You don\u2019t necessarily have to pay them for the labor of fixing it, but you will need to pay them for taking the time to look at it and diagnose the issue. In some cases, however, if it\u2019s a complicated fix, you should just let the experts solve it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most use computer systems they can connect to your car to find what\u2019s wrong, while others will diagnose manually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Finally, Go to an Auto Parts Shop and Make the Fix<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you feel confident that it\u2019s an easy enough fix, you can ask the auto shop attendant what part you need to solve the problem. Then, head to your closest auto parts store and purchase the correct part so you can install it yourself and save on labor costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You could even bypass the step of having a professional diagnose the issue by purchasing an OBD2 scanner, which is a tool you can connect to your car for a quick diagnosis of what\u2019s wrong. To use it, plug it into the port beneath the driver\u2019s dashboard, turn on the car, and enter any information the machine prompts you for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Service_Engine_Soon_Light_vs_Check_Engine_Light\"><\/span><a><\/a>Service Engine Soon Light vs. Check Engine Light<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The service engine soon light is not quite the same as the check engine light, which you may have seen at some point in your car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The service engine soon light is usually just a reminder that your car is due for scheduled maintenance or if there is a minor issue affecting the car. They\u2019re less likely to be catastrophic, major problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The check engine light, however, usually indicates a serious issue with your car that requires immediate attention and fixing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs\"><\/span><a><\/a>FAQs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>How Many Miles Can You Drive With the Service Engine Soon Light On?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While you should aim to bring your car in for a diagnosis as soon as you can, you may be able to drive about 100 miles on it if needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Can You Pass Inspection With the Service Engine Soon Light On?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Mandatory vehicle inspections are important to keep cars and drivers safe. To pass an inspection, a car can\u2019t have any indicator lights on, including a service engine soon light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Why Do My Check Engine and My Service Engine Soon Light Come On?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many reasons, including a loose gas cap, faulty catalytic converter, a need for new spark plugs, oxygen sensor failure, or simply as a reminder that you\u2019re past due for scheduled service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Can You Diagnose a Service Engine Soon Light By Yourself?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, auto parts stores have tools that can connect with the computer of your car to determine what the issue is. In other cases, you\u2019ll need a professional to take an up-close look. If you\u2019re already familiar with cars and know your way around an engine, you may be able to diagnose the problem yourself.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of the most important signals your car\u2019s dashboard has is the service engine soon light, which is run by a computer that turns the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":836,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-835","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-engine","wpcat-8-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/835"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=835"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/835\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":848,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/835\/revisions\/848"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/836"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=835"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=835"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=835"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}