When your check engine light on Dodge diesel truck is coming on, the last thing you need is to panic. When that happens, it is actually a good indication that your engine computer system is warning you that:

• Diesel engine emission system is failing
• One of its sensors is defective.

The best way to test if you have a fault code is to reset it by disconnecting the battery connection or finding the computer fuse and disconnecting it . If the check engine light on Dodge diesel comes back after doing this, it means a system failure is indeed evident and it must get the fault code. You can either buy a code scanner to do this or see the nearest parts store that scans the codes for free.

Before scanning for engine fault codes, make sure the following are done:

1. Air and fuel filter replaced
2. Regular oil change completed
3. All the intake and exhaust valves adjusted (Especially if the engine has too many miles)
4. Battery cable terminals cleaned and tight including all the visible engine ground wires. (This also assumes that the battery itself is fully charged and in good condition).
5. All fluid levels topped up (a low coolant level can indicate an external leak caused by defective water pump).

Basic diesel engine testing before repairing check engine light codes

• Sometimes, even if the Dodge engine has a fault code, basic repairs must be performed first before troubleshooting the code. Failure to do this can lead to longer diagnosing the real cause of the code.
• Doing a visual inspection can also help you find basic problems like:
(1) Does it smoke ‘black” all the time at the tail pipe? (This indicates bad fuel system like injectors) (2).Does it smoke blue at the tailpipe? (This is an indicator of a worn or tired engine). (3) Are all the glow plugs working properly? (Check for operation and compare each resistance).

Furthermore, doing the above checks can save you a lot of time and frustrations usually if the codes or check engine light disappears after doing the basic repairs. Besides, these are common repairs most garages will do but will charge you before repairing the Dodge fault code.

Strategies after getting the check engine light codes on Dodge diesel engines:

Once you get the fault code and basic repairs done, it is a matter of getting the proper instruction or repair manual to verify the sensor or circuit you are checking. A good wiring diagram is handy when doing this task. It looks very challenging at first but as soon you treat each sensor or circuit individually, everything will fall into place. Remember also to reset the code and go for a road test. This will help you confirm if you fixed the problem or not. Should you need more assistance in doing this, there is lots of automotive online assistance available willing to help you for paid membership. Some will not even charged you if the code is not fixed or carries 90 day guaranty. With all these resources, there is no need to bring your Dodge diesel truck to any garage if you have a check engine light problem.

You can see more of these troubleshooting samples on:

http://www.automotivetroubleshootingsecrets.com

Discover how to conserve your fuel and save $200-$300 right now on gas by watching the troubleshooting video on the above website.

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 2nd, 2007 at 1:00 am and is filed under Check Engine Light FIXES. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.