the check engine light is a computerized engine-management system that pops up when it detects something that is wrong with your vehicle, it is usually an orange, yellow, or amber light that appears on the dashboard.
when the check engine light pops up it freaks out many drivers. however, some of the malfunctions that trigger the check engine light aren’t really that serious but that does not mean that you can ignore it because in some cases it turns out to be indeed a serious problem that must be fixed ASAP!
if the check engine light is steady then the problem is not that severe, while a flashing light indicates a more serious problem, either way taking your car to get it checked by a qualified technician as soon as the check engine light appears is a must.
here are the top 6 reasons why the check engine light usually:
Gas caps
this is one of the simple and not so serious problems that trigger the check engine light mentioned above, a loose gas cap can be the reason a good way to tell if your gas cap is the issue is if the check engine light appears after you fill gas, missing and damaged gas caps can also be the reason.
Catalytic converter
the catalytic converter plays a significant role when it comes to protecting you and the environment because it converts harmful substances in the gasses that your exhaust contains to ones that are a lot less harmful like turning carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide, if it’s not functioning properly your vehicle won’t pass the emission test, a problem with your catalytic converter can cause your check engine light to appear.
Spark plug or coil issues
the spark plug is a small component of the engine however it is really important because the creates the ignition for the combustion needed to start your car, and the ignition coil is also important because it generates the electricity required to produce a spark at the spark plug.
oxygen sensor
your oxygen sensor measures the amount of oxygen that exits your engine and goes through the exhaust, when your oxygen sensor is functioning properly it keeps your vehicle performing at its peak by keeping everything in check, when it fails the check engine light will pop up.
Mass airflow sensor
The mass airflow (MAF) sensor, is responsible for measuring the amount of air entering your vehicle’s engine, replacing air filters once a year is a necessity because they affect your Airflow sensors and a bad airflow sensor will start sending inaccurate information and will cause poor gas mileage, vehicle stalling, and increased emission, and -you guessed it- your check engine light will appear.
