Why Is My Check Engine Light On?
Beyond getting you from A to B, your car is an intelligent piece of machinery. With sensors all over the vehicle, it can warn you about impending and current problems. So if your check engine light is on, your vehicle is sending you a warning that all is not well. However, it may take further investigation to find out what is actually wrong with your car and whether it’s an issue with your automatic gearbox.
Why is the Check Engine light on?
The transmission is made up of numerous parts. As a result, there are a lot of sensors placed all over the transmission, which can help the vehicle to pick up on any unusual activities. When detecting unusual activity, the sensors will then send a signal to the computer in the car which says something is wrong.
In some cases, the check engine light may be a small issue that is easy to fix. However, ignoring a Check Engine light could cause a bigger, more expensive issue later down the line.
What can cause the Check Engine light to come on?
Emissions — If your engine is burning too much fuel and not enough oxygen is leaving the exhaust, then this can trigger the oxygen sensor. This will indicate whether your car is running with too much or too little fuel.
If this is the case, then the engine control unit may need reprogramming or recalibrating. However, sometimes the issue may lie with the oxygen sensor.
Loose filler cap–If the fuel tank system is not 100% pressure-tight, then it can trigger a sensor malfunction as a sensor reading can only be accurate if the pressure remains in the fuel tank. In some cases, the pressure reduces when air leaks in or out of the fuel tank. Air leaking in or out of the tank for because the fuel filler cap isn’t sealing the fuel tank as it should do.
While this issue is irritating and can cause the engine light to come on, it is one of the most affordable fixes. Usually a replacement fuel filler cap is very cheap to purchase and does not require and expensive and intricate repair.
Ignition system– Part of the ignition switch set up is a coil. The engine coil creates a spark that ignites the fuel. However, if the coil is faulty, then the fuel in the cylinder will not burn effectively. Furthermore, it can cause a problem with the catalytic converter in the vehicle’s exhaust. Fortunately, the warning light will appear if there is a fault in the ignition system, so you can get it checked out straight away.
Remember if your check engine light is on, then it is crucial to diagnose the issue straight away before it becomes a bigger, more expensive problem.
