Why Does a Check Engine Light Come On?

Is your check engine light glowing on your dashboard? This is one of the most common reasons that concerned customers will bring their vehicles to their service center. While many times it is an easy fix, your check engine light is there to prevent any serious damage to your engine by alerting you to an early problem. Ignoring it is never wise, but a little knowledge can help you understand that having it checked out sooner is always the right answer.

Is the Gas Cap On Properly?

This is a very common reason that the check engine light will stay on after you start the car. If you forgot to tighten the gas cap all the way after filling up, air can be sucked into your fuel line and will negatively affect the performance. Tighten the cap all the way and try again. It may take a couple starts to have the error clear. If it doesn’t, it’s time to have the error code checked at your service center.

Is a Sensor is Failing?

Modern engines use a precise mix of fuel and oxygen to achieve impressive horsepower and excellent fuel economy. O2 sensors constantly check that all the seals are intact to maintain the correct blend. However, these sensors can get clogged by pollution or overheating. Replacing one is generally a quick repair and will help to extend the life of your vehicle.

Is Your Fuel Injector Clogged?

When the service technician plugs into your onboard computer to check the error code that turned on the engine light, they may find that it is the fuel injector is fouled. If you leave that injector to continue to deteriorate you will notice problems with acceleration, your fuel mileage will plummet, and the engine will be subjected to additional wear and tear.

The Exhaust System has a Hole

Even your exhaust system is tuned to help your engine run for thousands and thousands of miles between maintenance cycles. If your catalytic converter fails, once again your sensors will determine that the airflow is not optimal and your engine can start pumping pollutants into the air.

If any of these problems are ignored for an extended period of time, it is possible that serious damage can be done to the engine resulting in a repair that can cost thousands and take days to fix.

How do You Find Out What it Means When the Check Engine Light Turns on?

How do you find out precisely why the engine light came on? Drop by your preferred service center located on Beach Boulevard, and easily located here on the Beach Boulevard of Cars website. Bring your vehicle in and let the technicians run a quick diagnostic on your vehicle’s computer. You will know what needs to be fixed and have a good estimate of the repairs needed. But never let an illuminated check engine light go unattended.