It isn’t necessary to panic when your vehicle’s check engine light comes on, but you shouldn’t ignore it, either. There are a handful of reasons why the check engine light warns you of trouble, most of which are in your vehicle’s emissions system. Central Auto Care can find the reason for the dashboard warning quickly with a diagnostic test, so head over to our shop the minute you receive the warning.
Reason 1: Catalytic Converter Failure
The catalytic converter is part of your vehicle’s exhaust system and it’s responsible for turning carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide. This life and environment-saving part can experience trouble just as any other part in your automobile’s engine can. The check engine light might not be your only warning of catalytic converter problems. You may also smell sulphur and your engine might overheat.
Reason 2: Gas Cap
If your check engine light comes on right after you left the gas station, pull over to a safe place and make sure you screwed the gas cap back on tightly. A loose gas cap will return a warning. In some cases, a quick retightening will do the trick. If it doesn’t, the cap could be losing its ability to seal properly. If you don’t hear a “whoosh” when you unscrew it, it isn’t sealing and vapours are leaking out of it.
Reason 3: Mass Airflow Sensor
The mass airflow sensor gauges the amount of air in your car, truck, CUV, or SUV’s engine. You probably already know this but in case you don’t, your engine uses both gasoline and air in the combustion chamber to fire up when you turn the key in the ignition. If the mass airflow sensor isn’t measuring the air properly, your automobile may end up with too much air or not enough in the chamber.
Reason 4: Oxygen Sensor
This is a very common reason why your vehicle’s check engine light comes on. The oxygen sensor’s job is a little different from the mass airflow sensor’s job. Rather than measure air, the oxygen sensor keeps track of how much oxygen is released in your automobile’s exhaust. This part is sensitive and can return check engine warnings frequently, whether valid or not. We can test the sensor.
Reason 5: Ignition Trouble
Finally, the ignition system can also cause your check engine light to come on, especially if the spark plugs are not firing in the right order or are worn. The plugs and spark plug wires create the spark your vehicle’s engine needs to fire up the air and fuel in the combustion chamber. A diagnostic and visual check will confirm the issue is your automobile’s spark plugs or wires.
Central Auto Care in Okotoks, AB, would be happy to hook your automobile up to our diagnostic machine and find out why your check engine light came on. Call us today at 403-995-4676.