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Why is my Malfunction Indicator Light on?

What could it mean if the malfunction indicator light came on on my 2006 Dodge Stratus?

  • I would like only those who know and not any sarcastic answers. Our Stratus has 27,000 miles on it and we had it parked for over a week as we were gone. Upon starting it up again the Malfunction Indicator Light on and has stayed that way since. It runs the same great way it did before, so I am not sure why it would come on if it never came on before. I am not a car expert, but the light is just a luminated light that looks like a transmission or engine. Thank you!

  • Answer:

    It simply means one of the systems monitored by the computer has returned a value outside the parameters the computer expects to see. If it's a minor fault, it will usually reset itself, since yours seems to be staying on, you will need to have it scanned, and I don't mean "Go to AutoZone and get a free scan" type, but rather to the dealer or a competent mechanic with a code reader, and find out for sure what error codes are in memory. Then armed with that information you can decide what to do next. Sometimes it's something very simple, a loose gas cap can trigger an EGR system error, the cure is tighten the cap. Other times it's more serious, but first step is find out the codes. I wish you well with it, hopefully it's something easy and inexpensive.

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Other answers

Check the gas cap. If it's not tightened properly, sometimes a "check engine" light will come on.

♥ JustAChick ♥

So the light looks like a transmission or engine and you ask for no sarcastic remarks?

Seoul Brother

Mine came on when I lost my gas cap, and then I got a gas cap that didn't exactly fit and it stayed on. Go to a mechanic. They have a neat little machine that they'll plug your car into and it will tell them exactly why it's on. And if it's on, you won't be able to pass an inspection if you live in a state or county that has the special emissions inspection...

Nasubi

i sympathize with you I've been there & done that,i would change any dirty filters,add a bottle of injector cleaner and fill up with some goos and see if that helps.These are things that need to be done perocialy anyway so its not like throwing your money down the hole,its probably something real simple so dont worry too much if you cant find it real quick.

doctor know

It could be something as simple as the gas cap is loose or something as serious as a computer failure.You need to take it to the dealer and have them check.

david b

If it is a 2006, it is probably still under warranty. Take it to the dealer and they can diagnose the problem, it might be something simple (It may even just be one of those annoying lights that comes on to make you bring it in simply so they can turn it off) or it might be something more serious. It should all be covered though since it is new.

George D

No sarcasm here, you have a malfunction. Take it to a local auto parts store like Autozone and they will read the codes for free. You can spend a lot of money and waste a lot of time otherwise.

eferrell01

lol @ george D....dodge doesnt have lights that come on at set times....sorry. worked for dodge for a few moons... pull codes at an autozone/advance/dealership and lets start from there.

chevy_man_rob

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