When it comes to auto maintenance, there are a lot of things that you can do yourself. Checking and changing your own oil, for example, is a great way to save money.
But when it comes to more complicated issues, like diagnosing and repairing a check engine light, it’s usually best to leave it to the professionals.
That’s not to say that you can’t try to clear a check engine light on your own. If you’re feeling particularly handy and have some time on your hands, you can certainly give it a shot.
But be warned: if you don’t know what you’re doing, you could end up doing more harm than good.
If you’re set on trying to clear a check engine light on your own, the first thing you’ll need to do is figure out what’s causing the light to come on in the first place. There are a number of different reasons why a check engine light might come on, so it’s important to diagnose the problem before trying to fix it.
Once you know what the problem is, you can then look up how to fix it and see if it’s something you feel comfortable doing yourself.
If the problem turns out to be something simple, like a loose gas cap, then chances are good that you’ll be able to fix it yourself without too much trouble. But if the problem is something more serious, like a faulty oxygen sensor, then it’s probably best to leave it to the professionals.
Not only is it likely beyond the scope of most do-it-yourselfers, but trying to repair it yourself could void your warranty.
In short, Advance Auto will not clear your check engine light unless they know what caused it in the first place and they can fix the problem. So unless you’re confident in your ability to diagnose and repair whatever is causing the light to come on, it’s probably best to just take your car into a shop and have them take care of it.
