Contents of the material
Why is my Dodge Check Engine Light on?
If your Dodge Check Engine Light (CEL) stays on when you start the vehicle or comes on while driving, indicating that the On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) system has detected a problem.
A continuous check engine check does not always mean an emergency, but it is important to have the codes read as soon as possible.
If your Dodge check engine light is flashing, this means the ECU has detected a misfire in the engine. Do not drive your vehicle for long periods. Driving while checking the engine flashing will cause unnecessary engine damage.
Ignoring the CEL warning light may cause more problems in the future.
Also keep in mind that if the Dodge CEL/MIL light is on, fuel economy may be lower and exhaust emissions will typically increase.
The Dodge Check Engine Light can come on for a variety of reasons. While it could be something as simple as a loose gas cap, there are over 1,000 diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) that can trigger the check engine light.
Without reading the codes it is impossible to understand what is wrong. Below you will find instructions on how to read the codes yourself or where you can read them for free.
What to do when your Dodge Check Engine Light comes on?
If your Dodge check engine light is on, in most cases you can continue to drive the vehicle as long as there are no performance issues.
Monitor alerts on your dashboard
Check the warning lights and gauges on the dashboard. Make sure there are no warning lights for low oil pressure or engine overheating . Otherwise, drive carefully and continue to monitor the vehicle. If the engine sounds different, the problem may be serious and should be diagnosed immediately.
Tighten the gas cap
Check the gas cap to make sure it is tightly closed. If you find that the gas cap has been loosened or removed, tighten it until it clicks into place.
After a few driving cycles, the light will turn off on its own because the ECU will continue to test the EVAP system. Once it is satisfied that there are no leaks, the ECU will reset the check engine light.
It will take several driving cycles for the light to reset, and in most cases the light will reset within two to three days.
Monitor engine temperature
Next, you need to monitor the engine temperature. If your warning light comes on due to a misfire, the engine may be overheating.
If the engine overheats, it can cause gasket damage, which can be a costly repair. Especially if your check engine light is flashing or flashing.
If the engine overheats or the oil light comes on, you should stop and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
Reduce speed and load
If the check engine light is on, reduce speed and do not put excessive load on the engine. If you are towing the machine, reduce your speed suddenly or remove the load.
Reading fault codes
The next step is to read the fault codes. Even if you don’t notice a problem, you still need to read your diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). To do this, you will need a scanner that can read OBD-II check engine codes.