Don Herring North Mitsubishi Plano – What Your Check Engine Light Means and What Might Trigger It

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Your vehicle’s check engine light can be a mysterious thing. It could signal something minor, such as a forgotten gas cap, or a serious problem, such as engine failure. Ignoring it could lead to a catastrophic breakdown.

Minor and Major Causes

The check engine light could come on because your gas cap is loose or missing. It could even light up due to a tank of the wrong type of gas, which might cause your engine to struggle.

More serious reasons could include an internal engine issue, a problem with the catalytic converter (or even theft of it), a malfunctioning oxygen sensor, a damaged mass airflow sensor, or faulty spark plugs, spark plug wires, or ignition coils.

Check Your Check Engine Light

The average driver cannot know for certain why their check engine light turns on, though people who work on their own cars can use an OBD-II scanner to read the vehicle’s diagnostic code. Most people would likely choose to go to their mechanic, who will read the code and determine the proper response.

Check Engine Light Colors

Many cars have a check engine light that simply turns on in one color, but in some later models, the check engine light features different colors. In these vehicles, a flashing light or a bright red light means you should service your vehicle as soon as possible, while a solid orange or yellow light may show that the issue is not as pressing. You should still make an appointment to discover the problem.

If your check engine light turns on, you hope it’s something minor. But don’t make the assumption — doing so could be costly.

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