Replacing a faulty oxygen sensor
— a sensor used to optimize a vehicle's fuel-to-air mixture to increase gas mileage and reduce emissions — is the most common cause for a check engine light.
What causes a false check engine light?
False Alarms
Check your gas cap is tight
, and tighten if needed. After doing so, it will still take a short time before the light turns off. The light can also turn on due to humidity or other factors, but should turn off on its own after a short time in these cases.
Can check engine light come on if nothing is wrong?
Just about anything wrong with your vehicle's ignition system will likely cause your check engine light to come on
. If you haven't had your plugs changed and your vehicle has over 100,000 miles on it, it's time for new plugs and possibly new wires. Stalls are another indicator of spark plug trouble.
What does a solid yellow check engine light mean?
The steady yellow light is telling you to
take a look and fix the minor issue as soon as you can, but it's not usually serious
. The flashing light means that your vehicle's engine is misfiring and you should investigate the problem immediately.
Can I drive with engine light on?
The rule of thumb is that
if the check engine light is flashing, you can't keep driving the car
. It's an emergency. Often it indicates an engine misfire. If you keep driving, you will likely cause irreversible damage, mostly to the (expensive) catalytic converter.
When should I be worried about check engine light?
Unlike a Temperature or Oil Pressure light, a Check Engine light is usually not an urgent, “Stop right now or you may cause permanent damage!” type of situation,
unless it is flashing
. If the check engine light is flashing, a more severe problem has occurred.
Why is my check engine light on but everything is fine?
These problems can range from
faults within the electrical system, the engine, fluid levels or to problems within the car's emissions system
. The problem can even be as simple as forgetting to tighten your gas cap – in fact, this is the most common reason why check engine lights appear in the first place.
Will a dirty air filter cause a check engine light?
A dirty air filter is one of the things that can cause your Check Engine light to come on
, caused by an inadequate supply of air to the engine that results in a buildup of carbon deposits. Have your mechanic scan your vehicle to track down the source of the problem, as it could be as simple as replacing the air filter.
Octane booster
Accidentally pumping regular 87 octane gas into a car that requires 93 octane may cause the ‘Check Engine' light to come on
. Vehicle computers can compensate for less than optimal octane by reducing ignition timing.
What does a steady check engine light mean?
Your car rarely has an immediate effect without leaving a telltale sign. If the check engine light turns on and is steady, not flashing, you can keep driving as long as your vehicle isn't performing out of the ordinary. A steady light is
your car's way of telling you your car is in need of service
.
What does the Orange engine light mean?
A flashing orange light means that
there is a problem that could affect how the car drives or handles, such as an engine misfire
. You might be able to feel your car shake, or the engine could suddenly sound different. If this light comes on, you should take your car to be serviced immediately.
Why is my check engine light on and car shaking?
Usually, when the check engine light is on and the car is shaking, that means you're dealing with an
engine misfire
. Basically, the check engine light comes on whenever there's an issue that could increase vehicle tailpipe emissions.
