Glossary
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL)
The dashboard warning light — usually shaped like an engine outline — that illuminates when the onboard computer detects and stores a diagnostic trouble code.
Commonly called the "check engine light." A steady MIL means a stored code that isn't immediately dangerous to keep driving on; a flashing MIL signals an active misfire severe enough to damage the catalytic converter.
See also
- Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC): A standardized alphanumeric code (e.g. P0299) that a vehicle's computer sets when it detects a fault, pointing a technician toward the affected system and circuit.
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