Why is My Check Engine Light On?

Reasons Your Check Engine Light May Be On

Your vehicle is packed with multiple sensors so that it can let you know when it’s in need of service. One of the most important lights to pay attention to is your check engine light. This light usually comes on when something serious is wrong, and there can be quite a few causes. When you want to make sure that your vehicle is safe to drive near Ranger, Eastland, or Cisco, you’ll want to make sure that you head to Stanley Ford Eastland.

Avoiding Stress

It’s easy to get worked up over all of the possible causes, but you’ll want to take the time to rule out smaller issues first. 

• Your Gas Cap Is Loose or Damaged: When your light comes on, you’re going to want to make sure that your gas cap is snugly in place. If it is loose, you might be allowing fuel vapors to escape your model. 
• Your Battery Is Giving Out: It’s important to remember that most of your vehicle’s systems run off of electricity, so if you have a bad battery underneath the hood, it’s not uncommon for them to start malfunctioning. 
• Your Mass Airflow Sensor Is Malfunctioning: This sensor is responsible for measuring your airflow and is incredibly important. You might run into everything from a rough idle to stalling when it goes bad. 
• Your Oxygen Sensors Are Having Issues: Your computer relies on data received from your oxygen sensors to properly calculate your fuel efficiency. Located in your exhaust system, these sensors will keep an accurate measurement of your air-to-fuel ratio. 

Solving the Issue

If you’re dealing with an issue that’s a bit more complex than you expected, you’ll want to make your way to the nearest mechanic. Once you arrive, you might be dealing with:

• Your Spark Plugs are Going Out: It’s no secret that spark plugs don’t last forever, as a bad set can even keep your vehicle from starting. Before then, they might cause a drop in efficiency and power, and they can even damage other parts of your vehicle. 
• Your Vacuum System has a Leak: There are a lot of different parts in your vacuum system, so if you feel that you might have a leak or some other issue, you’ll want to get it handled by a professional as soon as possible. 
• You Have an EGR Valve Problem: When you’re driving, you’re putting out harmful emissions. In order to cut down on this, your EGR valve works by recirculating nitrogen oxides back into your air intake. 
• Your Catalytic Converter is Damaged: Your catalytic converter is built with expensive metals, which makes it a ripe target for theft. When this part is missing or damaged, you’ll notice a rotten smell and you may see a decrease in fuel efficiency. 

Your Next Service 

When it comes to your check engine light, you might be dealing with an expensive mystery. If you want to make sure that your vehicle is safe to drive, make your way to Stanley Ford Eastland. Our mechanics can diagnose the problem with ease, and they’ll keep you informed about any necessary repairs. Driving with your check engine light can cause everything from decreased performance to long-term damage, but once our team is finished with your vehicle, you’ll have a model that you can be confident in.