4 Reasons Your Check Engine Light Is On

What is Your Check Engine light?

Your check engine light is the first warning sign that something may be wrong in your car. It can be as simple as not screwing your gas cap on to having to repair your catalytic converter. It’s a mysterious warning light that confuses and frustrates many vehicle owners.

First and foremost, is your check engine light blinking or static? If your check engine light is blinking, it’s best to immediately pull over and get assistance. A blinking check engine light can be a sign of an emergency in your car.

If the light isn’t blinking, there’s no immediate need to stop driving but you should get a check engine light diagnosis by a professional mechanic. AAMCO Louisville can help perform your check engine light diagnosis and properly treat any issues in your car.

4 Possibilities Your Check Engine Light is On

Your Gas Cap Is Loose

Believe it or not, if your gas cap is loose, this can set off check engine light codes. When there’s a vapor leak due to a loose or cracked gas cap, it can throw off the pressure inside your gas tank. Your car may detect this as a leak in the emissions so the light turns on to alert you of this issue. You can test if this is the culprit by tightening or replacing the gas cap. Give it around a week to see if the engine light disappears. 

If you’ve fiddle with the gas cap and find that your check engine light is still on, you may need to go into a Louisville mechanic and perform a check engine light diagnosis. They have the proper equipment to read check engine light codes and properly evaluate the issue. AAMCO Louisville’s expert team of mechanics can help assess your car and find the problem in no time.  Make an appointment today.

If your catalytic converter isn’t functioning properly, it can affect your car’s gas mileage and put out poor emissions. Additionally, a bad catalytic converter can make it harder for your vehicle to accelerate and you’ll find it harder to accelerate over time. If your catalytic converter is faulty, your check engine light will appear alerting you to the issue. 

The only surefire way to find out what is causing the light to come on is to bring it in for a check engine light diagnosis. A trusted local Louisville mechanic such as AAMCO Louisville will read your check engine light codes and get to the bottom of the problem.

Oxygen Sensor Needs Replacing

Most cars have two to four oxygen sensors. Oxygen sensors are essential for a proper oxygen to fuel ratio. Oxygen sensors measure how much oxygen is in the car’s exhaust and figures out how much fuel has been used. The sensors work with the engine’s computer to adjust and measure the ratio of air to gasoline. Too much or too little oxygen can damage your engine and lead to larger problems down the line.

A faulty oxygen sensor can eventually lead to your engine losing power and can mess up your emissions. A proper engine light diagnosis will address which oxygen sensor needs replacing and ensure that you properly address the right sensor. Be sure to make an appointment with AAMCO Louisville mechanics to assess and address any fault oxygen sensors present in your car.

Spark Plugs Are Worn Out

If your check engine light comes on and you feel your car jolting during acceleration, this can be a sign of worn out spark plugs. Spark plugs work with the ignition to supply power to your engine. A faulty spark plug can affect the entire combustion process for your engine. It is easy and inexpensive to replace spark plugs. 

Generally, in newer cars you can wait until 100,000 miles to replace the spark plugs. In older cars, it is best to replace spark plugs every 25,000 to 30,000 miles. It is best to replace them according to your owner’s manual and not to wait until they’ve completely worn out. Schedule an AAMCO Louisville appointment and our team of experts will diagnosis the state of your spark plugs and see if they need replacing.

Don’t Wait On Your Check Engine Light

AAMCO Louisville Is Here To Assist

If your catalytic converter isn’t functioning properly, it can affect your car’s gas mileage and put out poor emissions. Additionally, a bad catalytic converter can make it harder for your vehicle to accelerate and you’ll find it harder to accelerate over time. If your catalytic converter is faulty, your check engine light will appear alerting you to the issue. 

The only surefire way to find out what is causing the light to come on is to bring it in for a check engine light diagnosis. A trusted local Louisville mechanic such as AAMCO Louisville will read your check engine light codes and get to the bottom of the problem.