Neither black tape nor a magic marker is the solution when your car or truck's check-engine light comes on. When the light, which is shaped like the outline of an engine, illuminates, do not panic!

The check engine light means one of your car’s systems is malfunctioning. If it’s flashing, pull over as soon as you safely can. If it’s steady, follow these simple steps. Many, or all, of the ...

While your car can’t talk, it communicates with you using chimes, icons, and messages. One icon that you should never ignore is the check engine light. It turns on when the car’s onboard computer ...

An OBD-II scanner can help you read check engine light codes and diagnose various car problems, but it can't fix the issue ...

Cars are more than just oil and steel. Modern models have incorporated electronics and computer chips to help manage and optimize their mechanical components. That means maintaining your car's ...

FILE - In this Feb. 5, 2021 file photo, Ari Thielman, manager at GT Tire & Service Center, holds a catalytic converter from a Ford F-150 that the 155 Colony St. business replaced for a customer in ...

Car diagnostic tests scan a car’s components and integrated systems for errors or malfunctions before they become dangerous. These tests leverage computerization to keep your car in optimal working ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Jim Gorzelany is a veteran automotive journalist. With both new-car prices and fuel costs on the rise, today’s motorists are ...

Americans are holding onto their vehicles longer than ever, with the average age of a car in 2020 rising to a record 12.1 years, according to data from IHS Markit. But if you own a car for long enough ...