The check engine light in a 2012 Jeep Patriot can come on for many different reasons. If You have Your check engine light come on while You are driving the first thing that You should do is get off the road and stop in a safe location because continuing to run Your engine can damage it. Once You are stopped somewhere safely You can use an OBD II scan tool to read the ECU. The code that caused Your check engine light to turn on will be stored in the ECU's memory. Most commonly the light will come on for something simple like a loose gas cap, but it could be something more serious.
Catherine T
July 16, 2020
If the check engine light on the 2012 jeep patriot is on then you may have a couple off different issues. Realistically it can come on anytime the ecu detects and error and stores a trouble code. To check the code you will need to hook the vehicle up to a obd scanner and read the code. The light can also come on when you are approaching a service milestone. Issue that cause it can include a loose gas cap, leaks in the vacuum seals, engine misfires, low oil pressure, bad spark plugs, or really anything else. The check engine light is a catch all to alert you that something is wrong, but that something can cover nearly anything on the vehicle. Often it is minor, but it should not be ignored.
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