It doesn’t matter whether you drive a car or light or heavy-duty truck. An illuminated check engine light means trouble. Your vehicle has an engine control unit (ECU) that is considered its main computer. The ECU monitors all of your vehicle’s systems constantly while you are driving it. Cergizan’s Auto and Truck Repair warns that if the check engine light comes on, the ECU has found something wrong.
Check Engine Light 101
Let’s flesh this out further. You probably have noticed that when you first start your automobile, all of the dashboard lights turn on. This is because the ECU is communicating with the system sensors to run a basic check of all systems to make certain they are okay before you start driving. As each system sends back data to let the ECU know that everything is okay, the dashboard light associated with that system turns off. If, while you’re driving, any of these systems report an error, the ECU will turn on the associated light to let you know there’s a problem. If the system that reported the error does not have a light of its own, the ECU will turn on the check engine light.
Reason Why the Check Engine Light Comes On
A recent study revealed that the check engine light rarely comes on falsely. Rather, this light detects numerous problems in vehicle engines that would otherwise go unnoticed. This is why we recommend that you have any check engine light warning diagnosed as soon as possible. Common reasons why a check engine light comes on include problems in your vehicle’s exhaust system, such as catalytic converter or oxygen sensor failure; issues in the fuel system, such as too much gasoline in the air and fuel mixture; electrical problems; and trouble with the spark plugs or the transmission. All of these things can damage your engine further if they are not repaired.
How a Diagnostic Test Helps the Diagnosis
The best way to determine why a check engine light is on is to run a vehicle diagnostic test. This test communicates directly with your automobile’s engine control module to determine the error codes that it has received. The error codes point directly to a specific problem. For example, let’s assume for the moment that your check engine light is on because your mass airflow sensor is going bad. There is a specific error code that will show up on the diagnostic test that points us directly to the mass airflow sensor. This test makes diagnosing automotive problems much easier.
Cergizan’s Auto and Truck Repair in Chesterton, IN, can get to the bottom of why your check engine light has turned on, fix the problem, and get you back on the road as quickly as possible.