Does the check engine light stay on long after your car is in motion? Don’t look the other way! Ignoring your car’s check engine light can put both you and your vehicle at personal and financial risk.
Check Engine Light Can Signal a Trip to the Car Mechanic
Your car’s check engine light is there to warn you of any malfunction that could result in increased emissions. It’s also often the first warning sign that you need to head in for some auto repair work. There are any number of reasons a glitch or defect may cause the light to stay on, including something as simple as a loose, cracked, or faulty gas cap. It can also be something far more serious. Here are just a few of the most common culprits:
- A faulty oxygen sensor is the most frequent cause of an illuminated check engine light. The sensor measures the amount of oxygen in your vehicle’s exhaust. If you ignore a problem with it, you could see a massive reduction in your car’s fuel economy – up to a 40% decrease! The average cost to replace one is $400 and it’s well worth taking care of.
- The catalytic converter converts toxic exhaust gases and pollutants to less toxic ones by turning them into harmless compounds. If you take your vehicle to your car mechanic for regular maintenance, this shouldn’t be your problem, but it might. Replacing a catalytic converter usually costs a little over a $1,000.
- Your car’s mass airflow sensor signals the on-board computer to add the right amount of fuel based on the amount of air flowing into the engine’s air intake system. If it’s faulty, you’ll notice a significant drop in fuel economy.
- If your car’s spark plugs and ignition wires are misfiring or malfunctioning, you’ll notice a little jolt when accelerating. Running your vehicle on faulty spark plugs can lead to damaging the ignition, in which case you’ll pay a whole lot more for the repair than by simply swapping out the plugs when the check engine light first comes on.
- The simplest defect to repair is if something is wrong with the gas cap. If it’s damaged or loose, it can cause fuel to evaporate which, in turn, cues your check engine light to come on. Check to make sure it’s on tight and not cracked or broken.
Fortunately, today’s technology and on-board diagnostic systems have made analysis and auto repair much easier to pinpoint. When your check engine light comes on, you want a certified car mechanic who is qualified to do the work in a timely and professional manner. At Valley Automall, we want to make sure your car is running its best. Call or visit the service department at one of our many dealerships today to get the skilled assistance you need.