The infamous check engine light can strike for a multitude of reasons. There are so many reasons, it can be hard to pinpoint the cause, whether major or minor. What’s important to understand is that something is wrong and can evolve into a significant problem if ignored for too long. Here are some common issues that cause the engine light to appear in your vehicle to understand better what could be happening.
Read the manual of your vehicle
All cars aren’t built alike. The check engine light may have slightly different meanings to the vehicles around you, so it is worth taking a quick look in your vehicle’s manual to see what the light means. Lights are usually solid or flashing and can be different colours or symbols depending on the severity of the problem. Generally, a flashing light indicates a severe problem, so you shouldn’t risk driving it unless going to a mechanic. Even if you find a specific issue, it may be challenging to fix on your own.
Possible reasons why the check engine light is on
There can be a multitude of causes for the check engine light to be on. Here are some of the most common reasons. This list may or may not include your particular cause:
- Weakening battery
- Damaged Catalytic Converter
- Bad ignition coils
- Faulty spark plugs
- Loose fuel cap
- Failing oxygen sensor
- Malfunctioning mass airflow sensor
- Vacuum leak
- Faulty fuel injector
- Faulty thermostat
Don’t ignore the warnings
When your check engine light appears for the first time, it may catch you at an inconvenient time. Typically, it doesn’t need attention ASAP, but you should look at it as soon as you can. These lights are designed to warn you to know about the attention that is required on your car. If left unattended for too long, they can spiral into a costly headache that becomes more trouble than it’s worth.
Talk to your mechanic
As you can see, there are various reasons why the service engine light may come on. You can go the DIY route and consider purchasing a code reader and diagnosing the cause yourself. Code readers connect to your vehicle’s onboard diagnostics and give you a code for you to lookup. This can tell you what the problem is. But even if you do find the correct problem, we do not recommend trying to fix it yourself. Car maintenance and repair can be a risky procedure when not done correctly, and you may end up causing more damage than what you started with!
We recommend taking your check engine light to a certified and experienced mechanic to save yourself time, effort, and money over a DIY solution. The expertise of a professional will ensure the best answer provided for your vehicle so that you drive safely. Talk to us today when checking your engine light for services we can provide.
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