What makes check engine light come on

A faulty sensor can greatly reduce your fuel efficiency and can even cause damage to your spark plugs and catalytic converter. But if not taken care of, this can also damage spark plugs, your oxygen sensor and your catalytic converter. Since this could be a severe problem, it should be addressed immediately. Slow down and you may want to turn on the heater as a way to release some of the heat from the engine.

If the light is a steady glow, that indicates a less urgent problem, but it still should be taken in for diagnostics and service. Either way, attending to the warning light in a timely manner will prevent any additional damage from occurring to your car. The specific reason your check engine light has come on can only be discovered through the use of special car diagnostic equipment.

Be sure to visit your l ocal Cleveland-area auto repair shop for an inspection to see what's going on with your vehicle. Read More. As the temperature Am I in danger? This sensor is located in the emission control system of your car, and is standard on all vehicles manufactured after The oxygen sensors are used to ensure that your engine is burning the correct amount of fuel, and running at peak performance.

It also works with your catalytic converter to keep your emissions in check. Over time, the oxygen sensor or O2 sensor can get covered in oil ash. This will reduce its ability to monitor the fuel fuel system and oxygen mix in your engine, and it will malfunction can cause the check engine light to illuminate.

Plus, it can also damage the air conditioning system. This can lead to decreased vehicle efficiency. The fix for this problem is very simple. Just check your gas cap! Is it loose? Likewise, an internal engine problem that causes a misfire, and therefore increased hydrocarbon emissions, can also turn on the light.

And to make things more complicated, because each car is different, what triggers the light can vary by year, make, and model. What we can tell you is that the check engine light comes on for powertrain-related problems. Issues with, say, your antilock braking system will trigger the ABS light , rather than the check engine light. Of course, nowadays, because various parts of a vehicle are closely interrelated, in some rare cases, a problem within one subsystem e.

The check engine light meaning can vary depending on whether it is a solid or flashing light. Both a solid and flashing engine check light indicates that a problem has been detected. However, a flashing engine check light indicates that it is a serious problem that requires your immediate attention. In some vehicles, the engine light will not flash when the situation is urgent. Instead, the light will appear in red or orange instead of yellow when an urgent issue has been detected.

The bottom line is you should always get your vehicle diagnosed and repaired regardless of whether the check engine light is solid or flashing. A flashing light conveys an urgent issue that needs to be taken care of right away.

It goes without saying that engine problems can trigger the check engine light. A control module monitors engine operation via a collection of sensors. And when it detects a problem, it turns on the check engine light. Because the two assemblies work together so closely, a problem with the transmission can also increase tailpipe emissions.

Therefore, if the control module detects a problem with the transmission, it will turn on the check engine light. Modern vehicles have a plethora of emissions equipment onboard. Each piece of the puzzle is designed to minimize tailpipe emissions, thereby, protecting the environment and making the world a safer place. But trust us when we say an emissions equipment failure can easily turn on the check engine light.