Reasons Why Your Check Engine Light Is On
Check engine light is on? Don’t worry yourself quite yet. The severity of the problem could necessitate a simple fix or a costly repair/replacement. Our best recommendation is to not delay and take your vehicle into the shop – the faster you find out the problem, the quicker the fix.
The list of possible reasons your engine light might be on is quite extensive. However, we’d like to provide you with a few reasons this dreaded light might be on.
Gas Cap. The gas cap seals the fuel system. After filling up on gas, you could have forgotten to screw in the gas cap or lost the cap. If missing, your vehicle is more susceptible to losing fuel through evaporation and hydrocarbons will be released into the air even when the engine is off. This is not good for the environment or your wallet!
Spark Plugs. Spark plugs ignite the air and fuel mixture in the combustion chamber of your vehicle. Faulty spark plugs can result in an engine misfire or cause your vehicle to hesitate when heavy acceleration is engaged. If ignored, it can cause your catalytic converter to get clogged or cause damage to ignition coils and oxygen sensors.
O2 Sensor. A vehicle’s oxygen sensor measures the unburned oxygen in its exhaust system. When the need for replacement is ignored, your engine will burn more fuel than it needs which will result in your fuel economy worsening. Additionally, the faulty sensors can negatively impact your spark plugs and catalytic converter.
Catalytic Converter. Through the process of converting carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, the catalytic converter attributes to the protection of our environment. If this part is not replaced, your vehicle will fail the emissions test. Your fuel economy and overall vehicle performance will also suffer.
We hope this list has been helpful. If you want a more comprehensive and definite answer to your check engine light, please bring your vehicle to the shop. We’d be more than happy to give you a definite diagnosis and work on a solution right away!
