Have you ever been driving along, your car is running great, and then you notice the dreaded check engine light has popped up? *insert heart drop*
A lot of people instantly panic when they notice that light pop on – and a lot of people ignore the light until they’re forced to deal with the issue. The good news is, the check engine light usually doesn’t mean you’re about to fork over all of your hard-earned money to a mechanic shop.
Here are 3 reasons your check engine light might be on:
Loose or faulty gas cap
Did you know if you don’t screw your gas cap on tight enough, it could trigger the check engine light to come on? Without your gas cap on correctly, it prevents a vacuum seal and causes the fuel system to fail to circulate properly. If your cap is loose because you didn’t tighten it or the seal is broken, your check engine warning will come on.
Worn spark plugs
Spark plugs are used to ignite a mixture of fuel and air in order to create combustion, and power the engine’s cylinders. If you have worn or faulty spark plugs, you’re likely to experience a check engine light to come on. Faulty spark plugs may also cause your vehicle to stall. If your vehicle has over 100,000 miles and you’ve never had your spark plugs changed, it’s time to get them replaced.
Faulty catalytic converter
Your catalytic converter works by converting carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide. If your catalytic converter isn’t working properly, it can affect the performance of your car and increase harmful emissions. If you notice a rotten-egg smell, with the check engine light on, this is probably the problem.
If your check engine light is on and you’re unable to diagnose the problem, come on down to Wrench Junkies! We work on almost every make and model vehicle and offer more services than your average automotive repair shop.
