The ‘Check Engine’ Light Should Be Banned
Editor’s note: Jalopnik has started a petition urging the White House to require that automakers replace the “check engine” light with a display that tells you exactly what’s wrong. Here’s why.
By Jason Torchinsky, Jalopnik
It’s pretty easy to dismiss the “check engine” light as stupid, because it is. I suppose if you thought the smoke coming from under your hood had something to do with the floor mats, then, sure, the check engine light is handy. Beyond that, though, it is useless.
As it is, cars could, right now, do more than throw an error code at you. Cars have an advanced self-diagnosis system, but the results are not available to vehicle owners. You’ve got to pay a dealership or mechanic for those error codes and an explanation of what they mean.
This is absurd.
