Nobody likes to see the service engine light up on their vehicle. It can make a normal trip around the Homestead, Florida area turn suddenly stressful as you wonder what could possibly be wrong with your vehicle. Understanding what the light means and the things that can trigger it arms you with valuable knowledge that could end up saving you considerable grief in the long term.
Some people might be inclined to ignore the service engine light, thinking it is just a ploy for automakers and repair shops to make an extra buck. The reality is that the warning light is in place to make the car’s owner aware of a problem when it is little. Ignoring it can cause that small problem to compound until it becomes something much, much larger and more costly to fix. It’s best to take care of the issue as soon as you can, instead of waiting until you become stranded to do something about the situation.
Despite what many car owners think, the service engine light can mean a number of different things, not just that there’s a problem with the actual engine. By bringing your car in to Felix Sebates Chevy Cadillac’s service department, we can tell the exact problem just by hooking the car up to our professional diagnostic equipment. From there we will explain why the light is illuminated and what can be done to remedy the situation.
Ignoring Your Engine Light Could Cause Serious Damage
There are too many potential causes of the service engine light turning on to list out here. In general, the light comes on once the vehicle’s on-board diagnostics system finds a problem in the electronic-control system. One of the most common reasons is that an oxygen sensor has failed. Ignoring it means your engine will consume more fuel to go the same distance, costing you extra money every time you fill up the tank. Eventually, the problem can damage the catalytic converter and spark plugs.
The light can also indicate a problem with the catalytic converter. The malfunction cuts down on the engine’s power output, which can also cause an increase in fuel consumption. Your vehicle also will not pass an emissions test and the engine will run hotter, which can lead to long-term damage. The mass airflow sensor might also be malfunctioning. Since it measures the amount of air that is streaming into the engine, the problem can cause serious damage to the catalytic converter, spark plugs, O2 sensors, increasing the repair bill.
Simple Fixes to Your Check Engine Light
When the service engine light illuminates in your vehicle, it might be triggered by a problem in the ignition system. Often the problem is with the spark plugs or wires, which can easily be replaced for relatively little. Ignoring the light will lead to bigger repairs involving the ignition coil, O2 sensors, or even the catalytic converter. In the meantime, your vehicle will perform poorly and burn through more gas.
Not all problems that turn on the service engine light are serious. Sometimes the problem can be something simple, like you didn’t tighten the gas cap all the way after refueling the vehicle. This simple act reduces the pressure in the car’s fuel system. As a result, fumes from the gas can escape out of the tank through the loose cap, which in essence means your money will evaporate right out of the tank as you have to refuel the vehicle more often.
It might seem like a pain or a silly mystery, but when the service engine light comes on, bring your vehicle to our service department early on so we can take care of the problem quickly and for less money.
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