What Does the Service Engine Soon Warning Light Mean & How Do You Fix It?

In our article today we will be looking at a specific warning light, “Service Engine Soon.” This light should not be confused with the check engine light but it also should not be ignored. We will look closer at this less frequently seen warning to explain what it means and how to fix the issues of which it is warning us.

What Does The Service Engine Soon Light Mean?

As mentioned this is not the same thing as the check engine light and we will touch on that in a later section. The Service Engine Soon light comes on when issues are detected that may be caused by the need for maintenance. It may not be serious at the time but it does warrant considering service steps.

The issue may be minor at present but if ignored could lead to the dreaded check engine light or some other ominous warning light. Unlike some lights it isn’t a symbol that illuminates, rather, literally the words Service Engine Soon appear on the screen.

How Is Service Engine Soon Different from Check Engine?

The difference between these two lights is important to understand as the service engine light simply reminds us that we may need an oil change or have reached a milestone to perform some basic maintenance.

The check engine light however means that some error or issue has been noticed in the engine that may require a repair. You may have minor issues and get a check engine light but you can get more severe issues as well.

Another thing to note is that a blinking check engine light is more severe than a solidly lit one. If you have a blinking check engine light you need to get the vehicle checked right away or you could be in for a major breakdown.

What Can Cause a Service Engine Soon to Light?

As we have mentioned this light refers to regular maintenance milestones but it also may refer to some minor mechanical issues that may need looking into.

Loose or Faulty Gas Cap

If you recently filled up at the gas station and you get the Service Engine Soon message on your dash the reason may be very easy to diagnose. The fuel system must be sealed at all points including having a seal over the entrance to the tank.

If you forgot to screw the gas cap on fully or left it behind at the gas station you might get this message telling you that there is an issue. You might also get the service message if the gas cap is cracked or broken in some way.

Low Fluid Levels

Sensors in our cars keep track of the various fluids within the vehicle to make sure there is an adequate volume to perform the tasks associated with them. These sensors will tell the vehicle's computer that engine oil, transmission oil, coolant and any other fluids are running low.

You may also get this warning if it is time to replace the motor oil which should be maintenance that occurs every 3,000 – 10,000 miles depending on your vehicle and the oil you use. If you are overdue for a scheduled fluid change you will likely get a service engine message soon.

Scheduled Service Milestone

Cars today keep track of other service milestones as well that do not include the fluids. This could be things like replacing spark plugs, air filters or brake pads. The system knows certain signs from the vehicle can indicate the need for basic maintenance.

Always find out what the service engine light refers to and make sure you perform that maintenance. Ignoring this light may not be a big deal in the short term but over time these issues can increase in severity and then you might have a more expensive repair instead of a basic tune up or fluid refill.

Poor Quality Gasoline

If you haven’t used the car for a long time you might receive this issue because the gasoline has essentially gone bad. You may also get bad quality gasoline from the gas station either way the car doesn’t like it.

Bad gasoline can cause trouble starting, rough idling, stalling and sometimes pinging sounds. If the gasoline is bad it might be a good idea to have the fuel tank drained and refilled with good quality gasoline.

Engine Sensor Issues

Often you will receive the check engine light if an important sensor fails but you can get the service engine light as well. You will likely need a scanner tool to diagnose an issue like this and you may be able to simply replace the defective sensor.

Can You Drive with a Service Engine Soon Light?

The answer here is yes, within reason you can keep driving with this warning light as the issue is generally less serious than most other warning lights. You can not ignore it indefinitely however because maintenance and simple repairs are needed to keep the vehicle working correctly.

The issue may be a very simple fix and might not cost too much to deal with so it's not worth dodging the issue. If you leave it unresolved, worse problems can develop turning a few dollars for a fix into hundreds if not thousands.

Fixes For a Service Engine Soon Light

The solutions to fix this warning light are varied but mostly are not overly complicated. As mentioned these are mainly maintenance related issues.

Check the Gas Cap

You could get the service engine warning for something as simple as not tightening the gas cap enough after you fill up. Check the gas cap and if it is loose then simply tighten it. Get back on the road and the light may well turn off.

If the gas cap is cracked or broken then you will need to get a new one and replace it. Again this is not generally a big deal to do and it will solve the issue very quickly.

Change or Top Up Your Fluids

If it is time for a scheduled fluid replacement then get that done as soon as you can. If it is not a case of replacing the fluids then top them up if they have gotten low.

Check under the car to make sure you don’t have any fluids leaking on the ground. If there are, you may need some repairs to ensure that you are not constantly losing your automotive fluids. Also check any filters associated with these fluids as well as a clogged filter may be the issue.

Read the Trouble Codes

If you know that you are up to date on all maintenance then there may be an actual issue that needs looking into. You can start this process with an OBD2 scanner tool that simply plugs into your OBD connector.

You will find the connection point below the steering wheel and by hooking this scanner up to your vehicle's computer you can find any trouble codes. You can decipher these codes using your owner's manual.

Once you know what the problem is you can either fix it yourself if you can or get a professional to help.

Conclusion

The service engine soon means pretty much what it says. You have reached a point whereby things are happening in the vehicle that mean you likely need to perform some sort of maintenance. It may not be a serious issue but it can become one if not attended to.

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