Why is your engine stoplight on?
Ever notice that little red light coming on when your engine is running? It’s the “check engine” warning light, and it indicates some kind of problem with your car. Generally, this means that there’s something wrong with one or more of the emissions-related components in your car.
To find out what exactly is causing this problem, you’ll need to take it to a mechanic for diagnosis and repair. When you take your car into the shop, tell the mechanic that the check engine light is on, and ask them what they think is causing this problem.
Get the problem diagnosed
When you visit their shop, and they diagnose the problem, not only should they be able to look at it on a computer and pinpoint exactly what is wrong, but they should also give you an estimate of how much it will cost to fix. Simply, search for a local garage, for example car servicing Nottingham, to find a reputable company in Nottingham. Once your car has been repaired, make sure to reset this light so that it doesn’t come on again. If you don’t know how to reset it yourself, just go back to the mechanic’s shop and ask them for help.
Top reasons your engine light is on
Emissions problem
The most common reason for your check engine light to be on is a faulty oxygen sensor or a bad catalytic converter. If you have just bought a new car, even if it’s only a few months old, then this is the most likely cause that your check engine light is lit.
Oxygen sensors help to control the combustion process in your car’s engine so that they can get the most fuel efficiency possible out of the fuel they use. Catalytic converters are used to reduce exhaust emissions by increasing the temperature at which they burn.
Bad intake manifold gasket
Another kind of problem that can cause your check engine light to be lit is a bad intake manifold gasket. This is because the intake manifold supports the fuel and air mixture going into your engine. If it’s broken or damaged, this can create a lot of problems for your car, including poor emissions and even engine damage.
Check your spark plugs
If your check engine light is on and you recently replaced spark plugs, then the problem may be the spark plugs themselves. Spark plugs are small devices that turn electrical impulses into sparks that fire to ignite the fuel that ignites your car’s combustion process. In some cases, replacing them will fix these kinds of problems with emissions.
Loose petrol cap
Sometimes, your check engine light will be on because of a loose petrol cap. If you haven’t had your petrol cap checked or replaced in a while, there’s a good chance that it’s come loose or has even fallen off while you were driving at some point. All of this means that your engine isn’t getting the right amount of fuel, and it may cause poor emission and even damage to the engine.
Electronic throttle system
Another reason that can make your check engine light come on is if there is an issue with your electronic throttle control system. This system is used to control the amount of fuel that is sent to your engine, and it’s common for this system to fail in some way that causes emissions to be reduced, thus causing your check engine light to be turned on.
If you have a check engine light on and you don’t know what the problem is, then finding out should be as easy as visiting a garage and having a diagnosis completed.