Imagine yourself driving along Interstate 235, minding your own business, when suddenly you see an orange light flicker across the dashboard. It flickers again and then stays on. What does it mean? Is it an immediate need? Should you stop and call for assistance? Here are a few tips to help you make an informed decision about what to do next.
There is a big difference here. If the light is flashing, you need to pull over in a safe place immediately. We recommend having the vehicle towed to the nearest Hilltop Tire Service center for further investigation. When the check engine light is flashing it is telling you that something major is wrong and you need to get the vehicle serviced right away. Now, on the other hand, if the check engine light is on, but not flashing, it means that there has been a problem detected and you need to have your vehicle checked out soon.
One simple reason for the check engine light to appear can be a loose gas cap. Check to see that your gas cap is secured properly. Don’t worry if the light does not turn off immediately, it may take several days for the light to adjust.
A common answer to this check engine light mystery is that your vehicle needs a new 02 sensor. The oxygen sensor measures how much oxygen is in your vehicle’s exhaust system. If your 02 sensor isn’t working properly, you will burn through fuel faster and you could damage spark plugs or the catalytic converter.
The mass air flow sensor determines how much fuel is needed to operate the vehicle efficiently by measuring the amount of air that is entering the engine. If this sensor has gone bad, it could potentially damage the spark plugs, 02 sensor, or the catalytic converter.
The catalytic converter turns harmful carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide. If that is the issue, your vehicle will run at reduced fuel efficiency and higher temperature. It could also fail emissions tests.
It could just be time to replace the spark plugs. Spark plugs “spark” the engine to ignite the air/fuel combination in your vehicle’s combustion chamber. Worn out spark plugs can damage the ignition coils, 02 sensor, or catalytic converter.
Whatever the answer to the mystery of the check engine light is, it can only be solved by car care experts, and we happen to know a few! They will hook your vehicle up to a computer that will give mystery codes to solve. Our pros are trained and know how to read these codes and work through the issue to solve the mystery. If you see a dashboard light come on, don’t wait. The problems described above will only get worse over time. Let us solve the mystery today at your neighborhood Hilltop Tire Service center.
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