What is it with these foreign cars and their "check engine" lights?

Well the newer the car the more sensors you will have for your car. Soon there will be a sensor telling you have to go take a pee while driving. It's on all cars not just imports. Just for example if you have a code b1600 with the check engine like on it is a seat position sensor on a chevy pick-up 04 and newer.

These sensors tell your computer what is wrong with your car so when mechanics like me has to buy 2500 dollar computer to read codes and voltage and air/fuel volume to tell you what is wrong with your car.

Todd

Todd

I have really grown to hate my check engine light. I got a used jetta a little over a month ago and the light has been on pretty much ever since i put the car on the road. Its really driving me crazy and its worse because i only got a 10 day temporary inspection when i registered the car, and of course that has been long up but i cant get my car inspected due to the damn light(i live in ny and your car needs to pass emissions) ...so my answer to your question is that i dont think you can turn the light off, its a permanent fixture.

It started back in the 50's when manufactures decided that people were too dumb to read gauges, and started putting oil pressure and generator idiot lights on dashes. Back then, it was easy to figure out the problem though.

Now, the check engine light comes on, and who knows what it might be? It's probably a sensor that's out of spec, but unless you have a plug in tool to see what the onboard computer says, you're forced to take it back to the dealer and get charged a butt load for them to do it and fix the problem. I hate new cars.

well don't listen to frizzle answer, a lot of cars if you remove the light it can worsen the cars performance. I saw it on a ford explorer. when we found the light out and put a new one in the car ran fine! Personally I would have chose a better car for my wife than a VW anyways. Very expensive to fix and not worth the money!! I guess if I were in your shoes I would find a different technician!

I hate to tell you this but i had a Ford Escort ZX2 and I bought it right out of the lot brand new the damn check engine light came on right after i took it off the lot, then it want away then i came back on and never went away again. It hasnt ever gone off and probibly never will until it gets hauled to the bone yard. Everything today is just pure garbage! We created the world we live in by supporting the purchse of all the goods made in china. Its only going to get worse.

Was the same way with a Toyota I had. Supposed to have fixed it but then the seat belt light stayed on! Sister had that problem and took the car back to fix it. It was also a Toyota.

I now drive a Chevrolet!

yeah well i have a Ford and my check engine light has been on for about a year now.

**but.. here's the thing: i knew that i needed a new oxygen analyzer. i don't know what it is exactly, but i knew it wasn't vital. then around november i heard a commercial on the radio that said, "come in to get your oxygen analyzer and say good bye to your check engine light!" which led me to believe that if you replace the oxygen analyzer than the check engine light will go away. i am lazy and broke so i never got around to it. also... i guess oxygen analyzers help with gas mileage!**

It's usually the oxygen sensor

its cuz their foreign dont you see you pay the cheap price in the begining but then you pay up the butt for repairs its how they trick you. like the saying goes you get what you pay for and thats exactly what happens when you go cheap and get a foreign car sorry to say that but its the truth. i have autoshop in my highschool and we do work orders for the people who live in town and all we get is those foreign cars new and old. but the only time we get a domestic car is when they are super old and they need a major overhaul in the motor or its some kids project. occasionally we get a newer domestic car but only to do a tune up thats why i stick to all american baby.

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS TO DO WITH EMISSIONS. IT'S NOT AN URGENT WARNING BUT YOU WON'T PASS INSPECTION WITH IT LIT AND IF YOU DISCONNECT IT YOU WONT KNOW THAT YOUR CAR IS IN NEED OF MAINTENANCE. NEXT TIME YOU HAVE SERVICE DONE THE CAR WILL BE HOOKED UP TO A COMPUTER FOR DIAGNOSIS. MORE THAN LIKELY IT'S A COMPUTER GLITCH...BUT THAT'S NOT FOR ME TO SAY.