If your vehicle is throwing a check engine light, but you don't have a diagnostic scanner handy, here are three tricks to try before seeing a mechanic.

Here are our pro tips for diagnosing a check engine light. Head to your local auto parts store and rent an OBD2 scanner to see what’s what. The staff will also help you read the code.

Consumer Reports explains what the check engine light means and what to do when you see it: how to tell if your car has a loose gas cap—or a serious engine problem.

What Is the First Thing to Check When the Check Engine Light Comes On? Start by checking the gas cap first, since that is easy to fix. Beyond that, it’s not a good idea to try and guess what the cause ...

What Your Check Engine Light Means When your check engine light turns on, one or more onboard diagnostic trouble codes are stored in the car’s computer.

While your check engine light is obviously meant for engine issues, it can often give you clues to problems in other parts of the car as well.

A check-engine light could be a gentle reminder or a sign of something catastrophic. We explain what a malfunction indicator light is and what you can do about it.

Some cynics believe the “Check Engine” light was invented to get vehicle owners to schedule more visits to the dealer for service.

Since the code is either self cleared or forced through software, in either case a mechanic is not going to be able to pull those deleted codes. Just keep an eye on the check engine light.

While your check engine light is obviously meant for engine issues, it can often give you clues to problems in other parts of the car as well.