Common Causes for the Check Engine Light

Your vehicle’s check engine light should be a welcome sight. Owners should always be grateful for the heads up about potentially dangerous problems with the vehicle. That’s the way we’re supposed to see the check engine light, but instead we often start thinking the worst. Am I about to breakdown? How much is this going to cost me? Is it time to buy a new car? Before you overreact, bring your vehicle to Webster’s Import Service in Greensboro, NC for a quick but thorough diagnostic check. 

The check engine light can be a life saver as well as a panic-inducer. No need to panic. The check engine light is created to give you enough time to address your vehicle’s problem. The check engine light should always be taken seriously, and it should certainly be addressed sooner than later. To help ease your nerves about the check engine light, following are the Top 3 Most Common Check Engine Light repairs. 

Loose Gas Cap

Resist trying to self-diagnose your check engine light, because you could be doing irreparable and extensive damage. Ultimately, you’re trying to avoid a visit to the repair shop. Every now and then, the check engine light is triggered by something insignificant like a loose gas cap; happens a lot more than people realize. That alone should help vehicle owners relax whenever that check engine light pops on. 

Oxygen Sensor

A faulty oxygen sensor is another very common trigger for the check engine light. The oxygen sensor, or O2 sensor, is there to calculate the amount of unburnt oxygen in the exhaust, and send the information to the vehicle’s computer. A failing oxygen sensor may not cause the vehicle to breakdown, but it can cause damage to other parts, as well as cause your vehicle to fail an emissions test.

Catalytic Convertor

Damage to the catalytic convertor could be the result of problems with the oxygen sensor that wasn’t addressed. This is the reason why check engine lights should never be self-diagnosed. It’s impossible to determine the root cause of a problem without professional equipment or an experienced technician. The catalytic convertor is a component in the exhaust system that converts harmful carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide.