Why is My Check Engine Light On?

Reasons Your Check Engine Light May Be On

Your vehicle is expensive, so you’ll want to make sure that you’re giving it all the care it needs. When you’re worried that its health might be slipping near Coleman, Brownwood, or Comanche, head to Stanley Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM Brownwood, where you’ll be able to make sure that your model is ready for the road ahead. With our talented group of mechanics and technicians, we can quickly diagnose and solve your problem. 

Small Issues

When you see your check engine light kick on, you might quickly begin to worry. Luckily, you might be dealing with a simple and cheap fix. 

• Weak Battery: Your vehicle’s sensors rely on a computer system in order to function properly. When it’s not receiving the right amount of power, you might end up running into problems. 
• Loose or Damaged Gas Cap: This is probably the cheapest problem that you’ll have to deal with. When your cap isn’t properly secured, it can wreak havoc on your EVAP system, resulting in your check engine light coming on. 
• Bad Mass Airflow Sensor: Your computer needs to measure your airflow in order to make sure that it’s running properly. That's where your Bad Mass Airflow Sensor comes in, but over time, it may go bad, fall off, or stall. 
• Failing Oxygen Sensor: In your exhaust pipe, you’ll find multiple, tiny oxygen sensors that assist your computer by measuring your fuel-to-air ratio. Since this is important for calculating your fuel economy, you’ll want to make sure it’s running properly.

A Big Problem

When you’ve crossed all of the items above off of your list, it’s time to move on to actual, mechanical issues. 

• Damaged Catalytic Converter: When it comes to helping the environment, nothing is more important than your catalytic converter. It’s responsible for the harmful substances your model puts out into less harmful compounds. 
• Vacuum Leak: You probably don’t pay much mind to your vehicle’s vacuum system, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t critical for performance. When you notice a steep drop in fuel efficiency and power, a leak might be to blame. 
• EGR Valve Problem: Your exhaust gas recirculation valve helps to cut down on harmful emissions by recirculating small quantities of your exhaust gas back into your air intake system. When it goes faulty, your engine light is sure to follow. 
• Bad Spark Plugs: Your spark plugs are essential to your model, as they help ignite the mixture of fuel and air in your engine. If they go bad, you could be dealing with everything from fuel waste to engine damage. 

Fixing Your Model 

Dealing with a check engine light is almost always stressful, so when you want to remove it from your dash as quickly as possible, you’ll want to head to Stanley Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM Brownwood. Once you arrive, our mechanics will make you a priority, so that they can solve your issue sooner rather than later. Generally, it’s best to schedule a service as soon as possible so that you don’t put any unnecessary stress on your vehicle. If it’s something like your battery, this may not be a big deal, but if it ends up being a bigger issue like your spark plugs, you could be heavily damaging your model without knowing.