No car owner want to see their check engine light. And if you can’t get that light to turn off no matter what you try, you might start to panic that your car’s engine is about to die on you. It might not be that severe, and Autoworks has some tips for what might be causing the light to stay on.
Transmission
The transmission usually doesn’t have its own warning light, so if something is wrong there, you might see the check engine light. Often if the transmission is the source of your check engine light woes, you’ll notice other signs. Things like transmission noises that are new and scary, transmission fluid leaks, and hesitation or other issues while driving are all signs that the transmission is having trouble.
Fuel System
Without fuel, there’s nothing for the engine to burn. So, if there’s a problem anywhere in the fuel system that’s going to cause the engine control module, or the ECM, to turn on the check engine light. This could be issues with the fuel injector, trouble with the fuel pump, or even a loose gas cap.
Exhaust System
Once that fuel is spent, it’s worn out its welcome as far as your car’s engine is concerned. That’s where the exhaust system comes in because the job it has is to remove the spent fumes from combustion. Problems like exhaust leaks can mean that the engine is working harder.
ECM
Your car’s onboard computer, or the ECM, can fail, too. If it’s not getting the data it needs because sensors have failed or the computer itself isn’t working properly, that’s going to cause error messages that have to be interpreted. That can be tough to do on your own.
Engine
Finally, there could be something wrong in the engine itself. Either mechanically something has failed or in some other way the engine isn’t getting what it needs to run properly. That covers a lot of ground, and it helps to have experienced auto technicians pulling data from the ECM and giving you the details after troubleshooting helps to narrow down the issues.
Don’t try to turn the check engine light off on your own through questionable means. It doesn’t solve the problem and can cause damage to your car’s engine that might have been avoidable. Call us today at Autoworks in Kittery, ME and we’ll be happy to thoroughly diagnose what’s going on so that you have accurate information.