Why Is My Check Engine Light On?

January 15, 2019 12:43 am Published by Leave your thoughts

You may have been in this situation before: you’re driving down the road when, all of a sudden, your check engine light turns on or starts blinking. If this scenario has happened to you, you know that it’s not a good feeling! Something must be amiss, but what could it be? Your engine is a complex machine, and there’s a long list of things that could go wrong with it, thus illuminating the light.

Whether your check engine light is currently lit up or if you’re just interested in learning more about the light, keep reading. This post from your trusted auto repair shop in Salt Lake City, UT will teach you what you need to know:

  • Old spark plugs: Your engine’s spark plugs are responsible for igniting the air and fuel mixture in your engine, which is the basis of a combustion engine. Unfortunately, the spark plugs and wiring start to fail after a while and need to be replaced. When it’s time for replacement, you can bet that your check engine light will come on. The good news is that changing your spark plugs is inexpensive and easy. In fact, you could probably perform the job yourself, but we recommend letting a pro take care of it for you.
  • Oxygen sensor problem: A vehicle’s oxygen sensor measures the amount of unburned oxygen in the exhaust system. If it’s damaged, your engine will use up more fuel than necessary, robbing your car of fuel efficiency. A faulty sensor could also cause problems with your spark plugs or catalytic converter. A professional auto mechanic can tell whether your sensor is broken and set it straight fairly quickly. Just be sure to bring your car in sooner rather than later—you’d hate to cause more damage than necessary!
  • Loose or damaged gas cap: Without a tight seal on your gas tank, your gasoline will slowly evaporate, and you’ll find yourself making more frequent trips to the gas station. Since many cars don’t have a gas cap light on the dashboard, your check engine light may start to blink if the cap is loose, damaged or missing. Check to make sure everything looks in order with your gas cap and go to an auto shop to buy a new one if something’s amiss.
  • Bad catalytic converter: Catalytic converters are essential in keeping dangerous carbon monoxide out of the air. Over time, however, they can become damaged and cause problems for our environment and rob your vehicle of its fuel efficiency. Only an auto mechanic can tell whether your catalytic converter has a problem, so be sure to visit an auto shop as soon as you can.

When it comes to your check engine light, only a pro at an auto repair shop in Salt Lake City, UT should diagnose the issue. There are plenty of diagnostic gadgets and even smartphone apps that can attempt to figure out what the root of the problem is, but the task is really best left to a professional. If your check engine light is on or if your engine seems to be running a bit off, come to see the team at AMR Auto Repair & Towing today. We’ll quickly figure out the root of the issue and set your engine straight.

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