Check engine light, solid
Schedule this weekDozens of possible causes. The code narrows it; real diagnosis confirms it.
Symptom checker
What is your
car telling you?
Warning lights, weird noises, strange smells, the way the car drives. Find what you are dealing with, then book the right service. From 28 years of pattern recognition in Richardson, TX.
Severity:
Stop drivingSchedule this weekInspect at next visitGroup 01
Dashboard warning lights.
If a light is flashing, treat it as urgent. Solid means schedule, not panic.
Check engine light, flashing
Stop drivingActive misfire that can ruin a catalytic converter in minutes.
Battery / charging system
Schedule this weekAlternator, battery, or wiring. Most batteries die because of charging issues, not age.
ABS / brake light
Schedule this weekABS sensor, low brake fluid, or worn pads triggering a sensor.
Tire pressure (TPMS) light
Inspect at next visitCold-morning false alarm, slow leak, or a sensor whose battery has died.
Temperature gauge in the red
Stop drivingCoolant level, thermostat, water pump, or radiator. Pull over immediately.
Oil pressure light
Stop drivingLow oil, bad sensor, or pump failure. Stop driving until you have an answer.
Group 02
Sounds your car shouldn't make.
Most car problems announce themselves before they fail. Listen, then come in.
Squealing when you brake
Schedule this weekWear-indicator tab on the brake pad. Schedule within the month.
Grinding or metal-on-metal braking
Schedule this weekPads worn through, scoring the rotor. This week, not next.
Engine knock or tick
Schedule this weekLifter, timing component, low oil, or pre-ignition. Diagnose before driving far.
Whine that changes with vehicle speed
Schedule this weekWheel bearing or differential. Worth a road test diagnosis.
Squeal when AC turns on
Schedule this weekAC compressor pulley or serpentine belt.
Click-click-click when starting
Schedule this weekWeak battery or starter solenoid.
Group 03
Smells from the cabin or hood.
Smells almost always mean a leak. The leak is the easy clue.
Sweet, syrupy smell
Schedule this weekCoolant leak. Could be a hose, radiator, or heater core.
Burning rubber
Schedule this weekBelt slipping, hose touching exhaust, or a frozen pulley.
Hot oil / acrid smell after driving
Schedule this weekOil leak hitting the exhaust. Find the leak before it grows.
Strong gasoline smell
Stop drivingFuel leak, leaking injector seal, or an evap-system fault.
Sulfur (rotten egg)
Schedule this weekCatalytic converter or running rich. Texas inspection will fail.
Electrical / burning plastic
Stop drivingWiring overheating somewhere. Stop driving.
Group 04
How the car feels.
Vibration, pulling, soft pedals, the way the car drives tells the truth.
Vibration through steering at highway speed
Schedule this weekTire balance, alignment, or a bent rim.
Car pulls to one side
Schedule this weekAlignment, tire pressure, or a stuck brake caliper.
Brake pedal goes soft or sinks
Stop drivingAir in the lines, leak, or master cylinder. Do not drive.
Pedal pulses under braking
Schedule this weekWarped rotors. Sometimes resurfaced, often replaced.
Hesitation on acceleration
Schedule this weekFuel system, ignition, or a sensor going out of spec.
Steering goes heavy
Schedule this weekPower-steering fluid leak or pump failure.
Group 05
How the car behaves.
Starting, idling, stalling, the car's behavior is data.
Slow crank in the morning
Schedule this weekBattery (3+ years old in Texas heat is normal lifespan).
No crank, just clicking
Stop drivingBattery dead, starter solenoid, or wiring at the battery terminals.
Engine stalls at idle
Schedule this weekIdle-air control, vacuum leak, fuel pump, or fueling problem.
Rough idle
Schedule this weekMisfire, vacuum leak, or fouled spark plugs.
Mileage suddenly worse
Schedule this weekOxygen sensor, fuel-system fault, low tire pressure, or dirty MAF sensor.
AC blows warm
Schedule this weekRefrigerant leak, compressor, or condenser. Texas heat exposes it fast.
Still not sure?
Tell us what you are hearing.
Call the shop. Describe what your car is doing. We will tell you whether it is something to drive in for, tow in, or wait on.
Schedule a service
Let's take a look
at it.
Book online, give us a call, or stop by the shop. Walk-ins are always welcome, and the coffee is on. We'll get you in, get you a straight answer, and get you back on the road.