Buy an OBD scanner for $35 at the local Autozone or Pepboys.
Use it to see what code is being thrown, look it up on Google to see what it is and how serious. Then reset and erase the code to solve the problem in 95% of cases.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.prowl.torque&hl=en
I just go to autozone and they plug in their reader and give me the printout. No charge.
That can save people hundreds of dollars instead of going to the dealer for a random misfire or a bad gas cap.
Yep. Had a 97 Acura that kept giving a check engine light every time I went down a hill. Got a decoder that showed an exhaust pressure failure. Fix was to replace the engine, basically. I used the “reset code” function instead. Just kept it plugged into the computer outlet, on the seat next to me. Never had any problems.