Your vehicle’s check engine light serves as a catch-all for engine problems that don’t have a light of their own. The check engine warning comes on for many common reasons that we will list below. If your check engine warning has turned on yet your car sounds okay, this does not mean that you don’t have a problem. The check engine light is accurate in relaying an issue. Texan Auto Repair & Collision can get to the bottom of the reason why your check engine light came on. Here are possible problems.
Catalytic Converter
If your catalytic converter is clogged or going bad, your vehicle will release excess carbon monoxide in the exhaust and the check engine light will come on. You may also smell burning sulfur, which smells like rotten eggs, and your engine may overheat if the catalytic converter isn’t functioning as it should be.
Gas Cap
A loose gas cap can actually make your check engine warning come on, and tightening the gas cap will turn it off. This is because the gas cap creates a vacuum seal over the tank to ensure gasoline doesn’t evaporate out of it. Other fuel system problems that cause the check engine light to come on are a lean or rich fuel mixture, a fuel delivery problem, or a clogged fuel filter.
Mass Airflow Sensor
The mass airflow (MAF) sensor can malfunction and this will turn on the check engine warning. This sensor is responsible for keeping track of the airflow that comes into the engine. If it is malfunctioning, it will send an error code to your engine control module and it, in turn, will turn on the check engine light.
Oxygen Sensor
The same holds true for the oxygen sensor, which is also called the O2 sensor. The O2 sensor keeps track of the oxygen that is being released through your vehicle’s exhaust. If the sensor is malfunctioning, it, too, will send an error code to the engine control module. The result is a check engine warning.
Spark Plugs
It’s possible that your spark plugs are the reason why your check engine light came on. If they are old and worn, they could be misfiring and this will trigger the check engine warning. You will also hear the misfiring in the form of your engine stuttering and you may feel your car shake slightly.
Transmission
Finally, if your transmission is experiencing problems, the engine control module may turn on the check engine light. You may also notice difficulty shifting gears, grinding gears, squealing gears, or humming sounds when your vehicle is in neutral.
Call our specialists in Sugar Land, TX, today to schedule an appointment for a diagnostic check. We will figure out why your check engine warning came on and fix the problem.
