That light on your dashboard — the check engine light — is one that you don't want to see pop up in your car. The engine on your car is the brains of the entire operation, so when this light appears, it can mean a lot of things, and you hope it's not anything too expensive to repair. If your check engine light appears, don't panic just yet. There could be something very minor wrong with your car. Read on for what you should do if your check engine light appears.

Check Your Gas Cap

It may sound very weird, but on some cars, the check engine light will come on if the gas cap is not properly put in place. Turn off your car, put it in park, and get out to look at the gas cap. Make sure it is turned until it clicks, then, make sure the small door is closed tightly as well. It could have just been the gas cap, so once you have done this, turn your car on again to see if the check engine light turns off. If not, there are a few other things you can check.

Check Your Oil

There are a lot of cars that don't give you a low oil light on the dashboard, and instead, the check engine light appears when you have no oil in the car. This can be a very bad situation, as your engine can seize up if there isn't any oil in it. Check your car to be sure you have oil in it, and make sure your car is cold when you go to check the oil. If there isn't any oil, add what is needed depending on the manufacturer's suggestion. Once you have oil in it, check to see if this helped. 

Take It To The Auto Parts Store

If your check engine light is still on, you can take it to your local auto parts store to have the code on the sensor read to see what exactly is wrong. The auto parts store can give you a code, which will tell you what is wrong or at least narrow down what could be wrong. If it's something simple, you may be able to make the repair on your own, such as a fuse, but if it's something major, you should take it to an auto repair shop to be repaired for you.

If your check engine light is on in your car, don't mess around with this. It could be something minor, or it could be a major issue. Either way, your car needs your attention. Have it repaired right away to prevent further damage to your vehicle. If you need extra help with your car, contact an auto shop that offers check engine light repair.