6 Reasons Why the Check Engine Light Comes On

When driving a vehicle, it is important to pay close attention to the indicators displayed on the meter panel on the dashboard. One of the most important indicators is the check engine light.

The check engine light or the engine warning light can come on to indicate anything from minor faults to serious problems. So if the check engine light is on, it cannot be ignored.

Apart from this, many other indicators can be seen in the meter cluster. For example engine oil light, ABS light, low fuel warning light, temperature light, EPS light and many more.

6 Reasons Why the Check Engine Light Comes On

01. Gas Cap

The gas cap is the lid on the fuel tank. The check engine light can also come on when you or the gas station attendant did not close the fuel cap properly after refueling. A knocking sound is heard when the gas cap is properly closed. Sometimes, if the gas cap does not close properly, you will have to replace it with a new one.

02. Catalytic Convertor

A catalytic converter is a component associated with a vehicle’s exhaust system. The catalytic converter catalyzes the more toxic gases coming out of the engine into less toxic gases. Perhaps when this catalytic converter is faulty, the vehicle smells like rotten eggs after a trip. It can also be very hot under the vehicle. You will either have to repair this or install a used or brand new catalytic converter.

03. Spark Plugs

The spark plug is the device that delivers an electric current from the ignition system to the combustion chamber. These spark plugs come in internal combustion engines. They have one spark plug per cylinder. The engine warning light can also come on if there is a problem with one of these.

The other component along with this is the ignition coil. That is, the device that supplies the voltage to the spark plugs. Their problems can also be affected.

04. Mass Air Flow Sensor

The Mass Air Flow Sensor or MAF is the device that measures the amount of air entering the engine or the flow of air. In order for your engine to run smoothly, the air-fuel supply must be regular and proper. When the mass air flow sensor is faulty, the engine warning light can also turn on due to incorrect data being received due to incorrect calculation of the air flow entering the engine.

05. Oxygen Sensor

The oxygen sensor is also a device connected to the vehicle’s exhaust system. It measures how much unburned oxygen is in the exhaust. This is to provide the vehicle’s ECU or Electronic Control Unit with the data it needs to know the proper air-to-fuel ratio for the engine to function properly.

When this oxygen sensor is faulty, the engine warning light can also come on due to the ECU receiving incorrect data instead of correct data.

06. Transmission Problems

If there is any fault in the transmission system, the driver is more likely to feel it before it is indicated by an indicator. The transmission system is a system directly connected to the engine that increases or regulates the performance of the engine and provides power to the wheels. Sometimes the check engine light can come on due to certain problems in this system.

Bottom Line

However, you should understand that the check engine light coming on is not something that can be ignored. If not paid attention to, a bug that can be repaired with a small amount of money can grow into a big problem.

Therefore, if any indicator lights up in the vehicle, it means that the device, system or something related to it is faulty. Sometimes it can be very small. But neglecting it can damage not only that device but also other connected devices and systems. Sometimes the entire engine may need to be repaired.