Check enigne light, more like "Check sensor that sets off check engine light."

[muckhole]

$450 plus tax. 

Aren't these supposed to tell you when something is wrong with the engine? Because on two different cars the only good they have done me is to tell me they aren't working.

My next car's going to be an import.

(Also, apologies for accidentally putting this in gaming.)

[MrAngryFace]

mine is on and off and on..its on more often when things are ok lol

[muckhole]

I don't think I know a single person who has avoided major repair work by that light coming on. I think it's sole purpose is to break.

[Mupepe]

the check engine light is a terrible indicator of when something is wrong and that's on all cars.  the light won't go off until there's a consistent error in the engine's process.  so say your plugs are misfiring for whatever reason.  If it misfires a few times, it's no big deal to the computer because it's not doing it all the time.  That's an issue because that's already a sign of some sort of failure.  But then if it was more sensitive you'd get all sorts of false readings because of simple errors in the combustion process.  Although I think in the end that would be better because who wouldn't like to take it in for a check up and they say "hey, no big deal!"?  but people would just stop paying attention to the light altogether at some point

[MrAngryFace]

The place I take it to couldnt figure out what was wrong with the lite and told me to ignore it lol

[muckhole]

The place I take it to couldnt figure out what was wrong with the lite and told me to ignore it lol

This always seems to be the solution, aside from replacing the damn sensors.

Mupepe sounds knowledgeable, and therefore can fix my car from now on.

[Bildi]

I've broken down several times in the last couple of years and my check engine light never came on once.

My lack of forward momentum was a much better indicator of when things were amiss. 

[Ganhyun]

Honeslty, the reality is that the check engine light only comes on when there is a consistant issue in a sensor. This then requires a specia ltool to read the logs of the car's mini computer to see which sensor is giving off the error. Some are important obviously. Others are less so and can be ignored if wanted.

such is the case with my car.

The light is on for a sensor that measures something, but isnt necessary for the car to run. The car will run fine without said sensor. The cost to replace it? Over $400.

I just dont like what they've been doing with the sensors since 2000, where if a sensor is just removed, the light stays on because its missing.

[Debaser]

My check engine light is on right now. I need to take it in but this thread is not giving me much incentive!