When you have a check engine light on and AutoZone gives you a code, what do you do with that code?

Question

Could it be a battery or Ignition Control module?

Answer 1

You take the exact code and either look it up on Google or ask here.

Good Luck...

Answer 2

I am probably going to get slammed with my answer by my fellow tech guys on here. But here is the cold hard facts.

When you get your vehicle scanned by Auto Zone, you are getting it scanned by someone in the business of selling parts. He can, at best, retrieve the code and give you the P-code and possibly the definition.

So what does this code mean to you? Usually nothing. If you are not a professional technician, having a DTC does not do too much to help you in most cases.

A professional technician who has spent years in training and a ton of money on diagnostic tools actually knows what information he or she needs from a scan tool. A DTC is only a small part of the information. He/She needs to be able to review freeze frame information and see what exactly happened when the code was stored. What was the fuel trim? What was the engine temp? There are several things the technician needs to see on the scan tool before he or she begins to diagnose the problem.

An AutoZone employee may retrieve a code for you and sell you the part that would most likely set the code. It may or may not fix the problem. If it doesn't, you are out the money. You chose to let them diagnose it at your own risk. They are in the business of selling parts.

Answer 3

Battery will not cause an engine light to come on.  That light is connected to everything emissions related in your car so it's more likely the ignition but the code should tell you exactly what it is.

Answer 4

you can take that code and call up your local dealership and cross reference it with their tech department to find out what the problem is, ask them how much they will charge to do it, thank them, hang up and then fix it yourself.

you can fix it cheaper than they will charge you, thats for sure!

also, try googling the code to find out what your problem is.

btw, what was the code and what kind of vehicle do you have?

Answer 5

autozone might beable to tell you what be the problem cuz they can look it up on the computer