Editorial Policy

Last updated: November 13, 2026

Who writes our articles

Articles are published under the name CodeRight Auto Editorial Team. Drafts are written with the help of AI writing tools, then checked against their sources and approved by a person before they are published. We do not invent mechanics, credentials, repair stories or test results.

How we choose sources

  1. Government and official sources: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NHTSA (recalls, vPIC vehicle data and the manufacturer technical service bulletins it publishes), and state emissions inspection programs.
  2. Manufacturer information: technical service bulletins and public owner information.
  3. Established repair references such as published repair manuals and diagnostic tool makers' code libraries.

Forums, social media and video comments are not cited as evidence. Each code in our database must have at least two independent sources that agree on its meaning. If we cannot verify something, we leave it out rather than guess. When a source blocks automated access, we use another source; we do not work around it.

How we rate severity

  • Stop Driving: misfires, overheating, low oil pressure, brake problems, or any flashing check engine light. Continuing to drive can damage the engine or catalytic converter, or be unsafe.
  • Fix Soon: the engine running too lean or too rich, large evaporative leaks, sensor faults that can cause stalling, and transmission faults.
  • Safe to Drive: catalyst efficiency, small evaporative leaks, slow-warming thermostats and similar faults. Safe in the short term, but still get it checked soon and watch for a flashing light.

This is our editorial judgment applied the same way to every code. Your car may behave differently: if it runs badly, stop and have it checked.

What we will not publish

  • Instructions for removing or disabling emissions equipment, which is illegal under the Clean Air Act.
  • Tips for clearing codes to pass an emissions inspection. Clearing a code does not fix anything, and inspection stations check readiness monitors.
  • Instructions for disconnecting airbag, ABS or other safety systems.
  • "Best scanner" rankings for tools we have not actually compared.
  • Repair cost figures without a cited source and a date.

Make-specific guides

We publish a code guide for one make only when there is something genuinely specific to that make, such as a technical service bulletin, recall or documented design issue, and we cite it. We do not copy a general guide and change the name.

Images

Article header images are illustrative scenes made for this site with AI image tools; they show generic vehicles and parts, not a specific car. Charts and diagrams are drawn by us from the cited sources.

Opinions

Each article ends with an "Our Take" section. It is clearly an opinion based on the sources cited.

Updates and corrections

The "Updated" date only changes for substantive edits. Factual corrections are listed on ourcorrections page; to report an error, contact us.

Advertising and affiliate links

Ads and affiliate links never decide what we write. Pages with affiliate links say so at the top. Details are in ouraffiliate disclosure.