Your suggestion has broader application than you've mentioned -

For any driver, anywhere - If the check engine light comes on, something's wrong. It could be major, it could be minor. Continuing to drive the car could cause damage and increase the repair cost. Or, it may have no consequence at all. Until the code is read by a mechanic, there's no way to know.

See the light, take it to a capable mechanic as soon as is convenient. Don't rush but don't delay either. In any circumstance.

(PS, any shop that does a test when the check engine light is on, without saying anything first, is doing an intentional ripoff. Any capable mechanic looks for that when starting a car)

Or it could be throwing a code that is meaningless to your emissions. In which case, reset it before the test. And then get it fixed. Dunno if you have this in Canada, but we can get codes read for free in the US through Autozone, Autoparts, O'Reilly's... the list goes on. Reading is one thing. Fixing it is another. Get the code read by a parts store, then take it to the mechanic. Free... and a backup to what they say. You'll find out quickly if they're reputable or not.

This is a well-known gimmick, OJ. If the engine light is on for any reason, the emissions center will charge $450 without even doing the test. So it's well worth it, to go to a garage to get the light turned off, and then do the test.

This has been in existence just in the past few years, since they use the computers to test the emissions. They no longer hook a hose up to the exhaust pipe.

Often, the light comes on, without anything to do with the emissions. One known pest, is if the gas cap isn't on tight enough.

If you have a regular car shop you go to, codes are usually read for free.

A great many, perhaps a majority, of the conditions that cause the check engine lights to come on are emissions or combustion related. My point was it should be acted on promptly and never ignored.

A number of garages around here charge $100 to reset the engine light.

True, it should be acted upon as soon as it happens. When it's been found that it's something minor, be sure to get the light turned off prior to getting the emissions test done.

$100? I can reset it in five seconds!

Sure did agree with you Elmer. You'll note I said and get it fixed. But, I disagree with settling for a single opinion on something as expensive as a car repair.

You can buy a code reader for about $25-$30 and check it yourself if you wanted to spend a few dollars. And as said many places will read it for you and tell you what code is coming up. Knowing what the code is will enable you to do research and find out what it will cost. Mine came on last fall. Found out it was not a major issue so I didn't repair it until I had maintenance done this summer. And yes you can reset it yourself. Disconnecting the battery for a minute or two is one simple way. The check engine light comes on for a variety of reasons. Yes you should find out why in a timely manner but I wouldn't get paranoid over it either if you know enough about vehicles to know if there's something serious or not. I know some people who would stop and have it towed immediately.

The wrench light came on in my Fusion but reset after restarting. The next day I received an email from My Ford notifying me of an urgent recall regarding an intermittent throttle body failure. Made appointment, replaced throttle body, no charge and came with a 150,000 mile extended warranty on parts and labor.

BTW, a dealer can find and read codes that are reset, erased, etc.. Autozone and others do not have the software to do so.

" But, I disagree with settling for a single opinion on something as expensive as a car repair"

I disagree. I think it's essential to find competent shops and mechanics you can trust and use consistently. I have different makes of cars and use different shops for each - sometimes a dealership, sometimes not. When a dealership, it's not necessarily the closest one or the place where I bought the car.

When a car starts needing expensive repairs, it's often cheaper to replace it and buy a new or newer one. That's also a decision a trusted mechanic can help you with.

If you go shopping for opinions, you're also shopping for price, which implies you don't trust who you're dealing with and that price is more important than the knowledge and quality you expect for the work.

A policeperson had pulled me over, saying that my registration had expired, and I thought that I'd renewed it before my birthday ... back in January. Though I'd thought that I'd renewed it ... I remembered that I'd needed that emissions test, and it hadn't been done.

He was generous ... gave me a "Warning" ... but not a ticket.

So I visited the Service Ontario office the next morning, they told me that they showed my registration to have expired, then I visited the emissions test centre, right across the road, to receive the story as I outlined above.

My own garage will run a test for free.

ole joyful