When the check-engine light snaps on, it is not a suggestion, it is your car’s way of saying something in the powertrain or emissions system needs attention. I see it as an early warning system that ...

The costs of buying a new or used car have climbed in recent years, and so has the average repair bill. If a vehicle purchase or major repair isn’t in the cards (or budget), maintaining the health of ...

All vehicles built since 1996 are equipped with what’s called an OBD II (onboard diagnostics) system that taps into a car’s electronic control unit on a real-time basis and illuminates either of ...

Today’s cars and trucks are literally rolling test beds of technology, which has tended to make the days of the so-called shade tree mechanic and eyeball diagnoses of what ails a given model a distant ...

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. The check engine light is one of those dashboard warning lights drivers dread to see suddenly come on in the middle of driving. First-time car ...

Your car's dashboard symbols generally fall under one of two categories: specific indicators with a single clear meaning and broad warnings with multiple potential causes. Specific indicators like the ...