What To Do If Your Check Engine Light Comes On

The check engine light in your car is there to make you aware of a potential problem with a part of the car, but it can be activated by many different problems in the vehicle, some of them very minor and others that are critical to the car's operation.

If the check engine light in your car comes on unexpectedly check the gauges on the dash for anything out of the ordinary. Make sure your engine temperature, oil pressure, an electrical system voltage are all running in the safe zone on the gauges. Not all new cars have a full gauge package, so you may not be able to monitor those systems except through the check engine light or other notifications on the dash.

One of the first things you should do if your check engine light comes on is to get out and check around your car. If the car smells extremely hot, has steam coming from under the hood, or smoke coming from under the car, do not drive the car any further. Call a tow service and have them take your car to your garage or a service center.

While it might seem strange, check the gas cap on your car to make sure it is tight if the check engine light is on. One of the most common codes associated with check engine light activation is from the EVAP system. If the gas cap seal is faulty, fumes may be escaping from the tank.

This condition can cause activation of the check engine light, so take the cap off and put it back on, making sure it’s tight and oriented properly.

Take your car to the nearest service center and have them scan the computer for error codes. The error codes will help diagnose the problem. Although, with a basic scanner, it is hard to pinpoint the exact cause because one code may mean several things.

Often people take their cars to a local auto parts store for a free scan to determine the problem. Unfortunately, most of these stores are using small handheld scanners that give vague codes and make the problem hard to pinpoint, which can be frustrating.

There are several common failures that will cause an activation of the check engine light in your car. Unfortunately, many of those are not something you can physically check. These unseen problems require a much larger engine scanning system to pinpoint.

Mass Air Flow Sensor

The map sensor is responsible for tracking the amount of air that is flowing into the engine. The air-fuel ratio needs to be correct or the engine may run rich or lean. The engine computer depends on this sensor in order to build a proper fuel map and keep your engine running properly.

Oxygen Sensors

The oxygen sensors are located in the car's exhaust system and track the amount of oxygen that is in the burned gas which is passing through the system. If the O2 sensor is not working properly, the engine computer has a hard time determining if the fuel mix is too rich or too lean.

Both of these sensors are critical to the engine running properly and commonly trigger check engine light activations. They are also sometimes hard to diagnose.

At Redford Auto Repair, we can help you determine what sensor or problem exists and is causing your check engine light to come on. Our full-service shop and knowledgeable technicians will work with you to find the solution and get your car back on the road. Give us a call today to schedule your appointment.