La. among states with lowest ‘check engine’ light repair costs

The “check engine” light: It’s probably the most hated of all the little lights and icons on your vehicle’s dashboard. In Louisiana, however, there may generally be a silver lining when that dreaded light is illuminated: It doesn’t cost as much to get it to turn off as it does in most other states. According to a new study out from automobile diagnostic systems firm CarMD.com, Louisiana is ranked No. 43 when it comes to the average cost of a repair shop visit. The Irvine, Calif.-based company says it compiled the list after analyzing more than 160,000 repair bills given to drivers in 2011 who pulled into auto shops because the “check engine” light came on. The list says the average “check engine” light repair cost $306.74 in Louisiana, with about $110 of that going to labor and the rest to parts. Wyoming, Utah, California, Montana and Arizona have the highest costs on the list. Indiana, Maine, Wisconsin, Iowa and New Hampshire have the lowest. See the complete rankings here.