Mitsubishi Repair: check engine light, autozone auto parts store, autozone auto parts

Question
I have a 2002 MIts Montero Sport and the check engine light has been on for over a month, but it drives fine.  Is there something wrong w/it?

Answer
Lisa,
You should not continue to drive your car with your check engine light (CEL) on.  Because it's driving fine, that probably means you have a faulty emmissions component.  That usually won't cause drivability problems, but your emmissions would be considered illegal depending on the state you live in.  If your state does annual emmissions inspections, then you would fail because your CEL is on.

The CEL typically only comes on for three reasons: problem detected with emmissions, ignition, or a sensor.  Usually when a sensor or ignition component has malfunctioned, you'd notice it.  But taking your car to the dealership or to a mechanic would charge you at least an hour of labor (anywhere between $60-$85) just to read your car's computer to get the trouble codes for the CEL.  But if you have an AutoZone auto parts store in your area, you can take your car there and they can test your car's computer and get the trouble codes for free!  You can't beat that deal.  They can pull the codes and tell you what your computer believes is the problem.  Then, you can take that information to your mechanic and tell him what the folks at AutoZone told you.

But where ever you take your car, I would not recommend you continue to drive your car without having your car checked out.  You may be making the problem worse or harder to fix.
Good luck!