I have an 04 TL with 28500 miles. Drove home from work today just fine 5:30pm. Got in the car to go out around 8pm and the check engine light came on.

Nothing on the information consol and no messages that I could find, just the yellow engine icon light.

I am 180 miles through a tank of gas so the gas cap didn't change.

Should I take it to the dealer or wait it out? I notice the emmissions are only under warranty for a year or whatever.

Am I really at risk for damaging the engine if I keep driving it?

Would an OBD scanner help me out here? Can someone reccomend one?

-Jeff

 

If the light is still on you should take it to the dealer immediately. If it is off, you should still have the dealer check it, because the ECM will normally retain the codes for a certain period of time.

The emissions system is warranted for the same length as the new car warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles.

You could be at risk if you continue to drive the car with the light on.

An OBD scanner might tell you the trouble code, but the dealer could check it out better and also has the necessary tools and parts to properly repair it, if necessary.

 

Look in the owners manual.
Most cars flash the check engine light if there is risk of damage to the catalytic convertrs, the only thing you can damage from a check engine light.

If VW owners took their cars in every check engine light, they would never get to drive their cars anyplace else.

Brett

 

My CEL used to come on a lot, and I used to bring it in everytime. They finally fixed it with a reprogram. I have an early 2004 TL and apparently Acura has had problems with this. After the reprogram...I never had CEL again (knock on wood.)

 

I took it in and they reprogrammed it. It was just a software bug. Now I can relax and not worry about buyers remorse..

Jeff