LISTEN UP – Your Car Has Something To Say

By: Samantha Hoover

 

Americans, as a society, are pretty attached to their vehicles. In fact, a study conducted by Nationwide Insurance in 2013 reports that one in four U.S. car owners have a special name for their car. You might even say that people like to think that their vehicle has its own personality and attitude.

                I don’t think it would be much of a stretch to say that many car owners would love it if their car were even more like a person, if they could, let’s say, carry on a conversation with the drive. Like “Knight Rider’s” Kit, or “Transformers” Bumblebee or Optimus Prime, what if our cars could tell us what was going on around us or if there was trouble up ahead?

                The truth is, our cars can, and do, communicate with us all the time. In many newer vehicle makes and models, a handy piece of technology called the Driver Information Center (DIC) or the Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) displays messages to you from your car about everything from what’s happening under the hood to what’s going on around you.

                The DIC or EVIC is usually located in the middle of your driver instrument panel in from of the steering wheel and is the primary location where vehicles service messages will be displayed. However, many vehicles now also have an interactive screen display in the center of their dashboard for infotainment, and you may see vehicle service messages displayed in that area as well.

                We’ve broken down the meaning of some of a few important vehicle service messages below, so when your car talks, you’ll know what it’s trying to tell you.

  • ·         Service Vehicle Soon or Maintenance Required:

This message is one of the most common and unclear messages your vehicles might display. It simply means you should check your owner’s manual to see what services are likely to be due for your vehicles based on manufacturer-recommended service intervals, or even better, take your car to an automotive technician and let him check it out for you. It is not an emergency and does not mean there is something wrong with your car, just that it is time for routine maintenance.

  • ·         Service Engine Soon or Check Engine:

Don’t mistake this message for the Service Vehicle Message – they are totally difference things. This Service Engine Soon (SES) messages notifies the driver of a possible critical emissions0related (poisonous gasses and pollutants released from car exhaust) problem or serious issue with the engine. If you see this message, take your car to an automotive technician as soon as possible.

If this message appears immediately after you have had your car serviced, return the auto service shop immediately and have them examine your vehicle.

  • ·         Change Engine Oil Soon or Oil Change Required:

If you see one of these messages it means that your vehicle’s internal computer has determined it is time for an oil change based on engine-operating conditions and mileage recommendations programmed into the computer when the car was manufactured. After you have your oil changed, make sure you ask the technician to reset the oil monitoring system.

SPECIAL NOTICE: Some vehicles do not display the Oil change Required Message until long after the recommended mileage or time period your owner’s manual suggests the oil be changed.

Quick lube industry expert, Ragan Holt, instructs motorists not to fully rely on the Oil Change Required service message, but to also be aware of what your owner’s manual and warranty require to keep the vehicle running at top performance.

“Follow maintenance whichever maintenance reminder comes first, whether it be the vehicle service message on your instrument panel, the oil change reminder sticker on your window or the owner’s manual recommended interval,” Holt said. “It never hurts to change your oil more often, but it can badly damage your engine if you wait too long, and can even affect your vehicle warranty in some cases.”

  • ·         Oil Pressure Low, Stop Engine:

If you see this message, it may mean one of a few potentially critical things: either your engine has dangerously low oil pressure from leaking oil, burning oil, or an equipment failure or the oil pressure sending unit that triggers the warning light has failed. If you vehicle displays this message, stop the vehicles immediately and let it sit for a few minutes, then check the oil level.

  • ·         Oil Life is X% (with X being any number 0 to 100):

This message appears occasionally to let you know what the status or working quality of you engine oil is. A low percentage of oil life means that your oil is dirty and is likely in need of an oil change.

  • ·         Engine Hot, A/C Turned Off:

This message displays when the engine coolant becomes hotter than the normal operating temperature. To avoid adding strain to an already hot engine, the air conditioning automatically turns off. When the coolant temperature gets back to normal, the air conditioning will turn back on.

  • ·         Engine Hot, Idle Engine or Engine Overheated, Idle Engine:

This message will be displayed if the engine oil becomes hotter than the normal operating temperature. If you see this message, stop your vehicle and allow it to idle (engine is on, but the car is not moving) until it cools down.

  • ·         Engine Overheated, Stop Engine:

This message appears along with some kind of chime or beep if the engine cooling system reaches an unsafe temperature. As soon as you see this message, stop your vehicle and turn it off. The message will clear when the engine has cooled to a safe temperature. It will not be safe to turn your vehicle back on until the message clears or you know that your engine is back to a safe operating temperature.

  • ·         Engine Power is Reduced:

This message will be displayed when the cooling system gets too hot and the engine enters the engine coolant protection mode, resulting in reduced engine power. Reduced engine power can affect the vehicle’s ability to accelerate. If this message comes on, you should drive at a reduced speed until the message clears. If the message doesn’t clear, visit your technician.

  • ·         Service Brakes or Service Brake System:

You will see this message if you r vehicle detects a problem with the brake system. If this message appears, stop your vehicle as soon as possible and turn it off. Wait a few moments, then restart your vehicle. If the message is still displayed on your DIC or if it appears again when you start driving, you should go directly to an automotive repair shop to have a technician examine the braking system.

  • ·         Transmission Hot, Idle Engine:

This message will be displayed, along with a sound in some cases, if the transmission fluid in the vehicle becomes hotter than the normal operating temperature. If you see this message, stop your vehicles and let it idle to allow the transmission to cool down. The message will clear when the fluid temperature is back to normal.

The service messages listed above are a few examples of the ways your vehicle communicates with you. Many vehicles also display messages for simple, yet important announcements like Doors Open, Hood Open, Low Fuel, Check Tire Pressure, Tighten Gas Cap and others.

                Make it a priority to get to know your owner’s manual and which vehicle service messages your car or truck displays. The fact is, your vehicle is talking to you, and it’s important that you listen. LISTEN UP – Your Car Has Something To Say

By: Samantha Hoover

 

Americans, as a society, are pretty attached to their vehicles. In fact, a study conducted by Nationwide Insurance in 2013 reports that one in four U.S. car owners have a special name for their car. You might even say that people like to think that their vehicle has its own personality and attitude.

                I don’t think it would be much of a stretch to say that many car owners would love it if their car were even more like a person, if they could, let’s say, carry on a conversation with the drive. Like “Knight Rider’s” Kit, or “Transformers” Bumblebee or Optimus Prime, what if our cars could tell us what was going on around us or if there was trouble up ahead?

                The truth is, our cars can, and do, communicate with us all the time. In many newer vehicle makes and models, a handy piece of technology called the Driver Information Center (DIC) or the Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) displays messages to you from your car about everything from what’s happening under the hood to what’s going on around you.

                The DIC or EVIC is usually located in the middle of your driver instrument panel in from of the steering wheel and is the primary location where vehicles service messages will be displayed. However, many vehicles now also have an interactive screen display in the center of their dashboard for infotainment, and you may see vehicle service messages displayed in that area as well.

                We’ve broken down the meaning of some of a few important vehicle service messages below, so when your car talks, you’ll know what it’s trying to tell you.

·         Service Vehicle Soon or Maintenance Required:

This message is one of the most common and unclear messages your vehicles might display. It simply means you should check your owner’s manual to see what services are likely to be due for your vehicles based on manufacturer-recommended service intervals, or even better, take your car to an automotive technician and let him check it out for you. It is not an emergency and does not mean there is something wrong with your car, just that it is time for routine maintenance.

·         Service Engine Soon or Check Engine:

Don’t mistake this message for the Service Vehicle Message – they are totally difference things. This Service Engine Soon (SES) messages notifies the driver of a possible critical emissions0related (poisonous gasses and pollutants released from car exhaust) problem or serious issue with the engine. If you see this message, take your car to an automotive technician as soon as possible.

If this message appears immediately after you have had your car serviced, return the auto service shop immediately and have them examine your vehicle.

·         Change Engine Oil Soon or Oil Change Required:

If you see one of these messages it means that your vehicle’s internal computer has determined it is time for an oil change based on engine-operating conditions and mileage recommendations programmed into the computer when the car was manufactured. After you have your oil changed, make sure you ask the technician to reset the oil monitoring system.

SPECIAL NOTICE: Some vehicles do not display the Oil change Required Message until long after the recommended mileage or time period your owner’s manual suggests the oil be changed.

Quick lube industry expert, Ragan Holt, instructs motorists not to fully rely on the Oil Change Required service message, but to also be aware of what your owner’s manual and warranty require to keep the vehicle running at top performance.

“Follow maintenance whichever maintenance reminder comes first, whether it be the vehicle service message on your instrument panel, the oil change reminder sticker on your window or the owner’s manual recommended interval,” Holt said. “It never hurts to change your oil more often, but it can badly damage your engine if you wait too long, and can even affect your vehicle warranty in some cases.”

·         Oil Pressure Low, Stop Engine:

If you see this message, it may mean one of a few potentially critical things: either your engine has dangerously low oil pressure from leaking oil, burning oil, or an equipment failure or the oil pressure sending unit that triggers the warning light has failed. If you vehicle displays this message, stop the vehicles immediately and let it sit for a few minutes, then check the oil level.

·         Oil Life is X% (with X being any number 0 to 100):

This message appears occasionally to let you know what the status or working quality of you engine oil is. A low percentage of oil life means that your oil is dirty and is likely in need of an oil change.

·         Engine Hot, A/C Turned Off:

This message displays when the engine coolant becomes hotter than the normal operating temperature. To avoid adding strain to an already hot engine, the air conditioning automatically turns off. When the coolant temperature gets back to normal, the air conditioning will turn back on.

·         Engine Hot, Idle Engine or Engine Overheated, Idle Engine:

This message will be displayed if the engine oil becomes hotter than the normal operating temperature. If you see this message, stop your vehicle and allow it to idle (engine is on, but the car is not moving) until it cools down.

·         Engine Overheated, Stop Engine:

This message appears along with some kind of chime or beep if the engine cooling system reaches an unsafe temperature. As soon as you see this message, stop your vehicle and turn it off. The message will clear when the engine has cooled to a safe temperature. It will not be safe to turn your vehicle back on until the message clears or you know that your engine is back to a safe operating temperature.

·         Engine Power is Reduced:

This message will be displayed when the cooling system gets too hot and the engine enters the engine coolant protection mode, resulting in reduced engine power. Reduced engine power can affect the vehicle’s ability to accelerate. If this message comes on, you should drive at a reduced speed until the message clears. If the message doesn’t clear, visit your technician.

·         Service Brakes or Service Brake System:

You will see this message if you r vehicle detects a problem with the brake system. If this message appears, stop your vehicle as soon as possible and turn it off. Wait a few moments, then restart your vehicle. If the message is still displayed on your DIC or if it appears again when you start driving, you should go directly to an automotive repair shop to have a technician examine the braking system.

·         Transmission Hot, Idle Engine:

This message will be displayed, along with a sound in some cases, if the transmission fluid in the vehicle becomes hotter than the normal operating temperature. If you see this message, stop your vehicles and let it idle to allow the transmission to cool down. The message will clear when the fluid temperature is back to normal.

The service messages listed above are a few examples of the ways your vehicle communicates with you. Many vehicles also display messages for simple, yet important announcements like Doors Open, Hood Open, Low Fuel, Check Tire Pressure, Tighten Gas Cap and others.

                Make it a priority to get to know your owner’s manual and which vehicle service messages your car or truck displays. The fact is, your vehicle is talking to you, and it’s important that you listen. 

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