Check engine ??

[mike9112]

my check engine light came on today and the guys at the store told me i need a new transmission? right ?? 99k miles never driven hard...they also told me that the light will change color to red..when serious

[mike9112]

Originally Posted by mike9112

my check engine light came on today and the guys at the store told me i need a new transmission? right ?? 99k miles never driven hard...they also told me that the light will change color to red..when serious

97..custom

[tman]

A check engine light could mean basically anything.

As for a color changing light, I've never seen one change colors depending on seriousness.

[avatar307]

The Check Engine and Service Engine Soon light exists primarily as an indicator of vehicle emissions compliance.

At least, that's largely what lead to their standardization, as well as the manditory conditions they must illuminate for.

Manufactures use them to indicate all sorts of other powertrain problems. However, if it isn't related to emissions, it's up to the manufactuer when/if it lights. Many diagnostic codes don't trigger the light to illuminate, the code just gets stored in the history.

I too have never heard of a multi-colored/multi-level Check Engine light. Every one I've ever seen just lights up red. That's why people call them idiot lights:
1) By the time it turns on, something is really wrong with the engine.
2) When it does turn on, it only idicates a problem, it doesn't tell you what the problem is.

Check Engine lights will illuminate for transmission problems, as the transmission is part of the powertrain. But.. there are for more engine and emissions related problems that cause Check Engine and Service Engine Soon lights to illuminate.

[pirho451]

If I were you, I'd never set foot in that place ever again. They obviously have no idea what they are talking about. To the best of my knowledge, the 1997 models did not have any warning lights that dealt with the transmission. Also, the check engine light WILL NOT change color. Perhaps they meant that one of the other warning lights will also come on? Those other lights (Oil, Voltage, etc.) are red.

You should take the car into a shop and have them diagnose the reason for that check engine light coming on. Usually it's something minor like a sensor that needs to be replaced. However, there is a reason that the light came on, and the sooner that you get it fixed, the better.

[avatar307]

After thought. Maybe they meant that the light will illuminate red. That it will change from off to red. Hell, I don't know.

I would of stared blankly at them and just walked out. That just makes my head hurt.

The light is a check ENGINE light, it's a little picture of an engine, some even say ENGINE in the light. Why would they arbitrarily assume the transmission was the problem?

[jase386]

as for changing colors, maybe they were confused as to what kind of car you were in. my 89 towncar has 2 oil lights. an orange oil warning light, which means put some oil in at your next stop. and a red oil light that means turn it off now and put in oil before you go any further, but what in the world would that have to do with a transmission hahha