QA

Question: What Causes Check Engine Light To Go On

A problem with either your spark plug wires or the spark plugs themselves could cause your check engine light to come on. Ignoring this problem may lead to a clogged catalytic converter, damaged ignition coils, or problems with your oxygen sensor.

What is the most common reason for check engine light?

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.

Is it safe to drive your car with the check engine light on?

Can you drive a car with the engine light on? It’s okay to drive for a few miles, but be sure to schedule an inspection of the engine as soon as possible. If the check engine light comes on while you’re driving, don’t panic! Just be sure to have your car inspected as soon as possible after the light turns on.

Can your check engine light come on for no reason?

Why Is My Check Engine Light On? The check engine light can come on for many reasons. For example, something as simple as a loose gas cap can trigger the warning. And major problems, such as failed internal engine components, can turn on the light, as well.

Why is my engine light on but nothing seems wrong?

Normally, the appearance of a check engine light indicates a problem somewhere in your vehicle, but nothing seems amiss. 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.

What does a solid check engine light mean?

A solid Check Engine Light can mean something like a loose gas cap, or it can indicate a more in-depth problem like a fuel, timing, or transmission issue. Get your car diagnosed, although the urgency isn’t the same as if the light was flashing at you.

Can AutoZone check engine light?

Does AutoZone Scan Check Engine Lights? AutoZone can diagnose Check Engine Light codes, yes. If your engine light turned on and you are wondering why, head down to your local AutoZone where one of our store associates can help diagnose the issue through our free Fix Finder service.

How many miles can you drive with check engine light on?

In general, you will need to drive between 50-100 miles after you clear your car’s computer. Hopefully, this will get rid of the check engine light once and for all. If it doesn’t, there may be a more critical factor causing this item to turn on.

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 your gas cap is loose or the seal is not tight, the vapor leakage can cause your fuel system to trigger the check engine light.

Who can diagnose a check engine light?

Solving check engine light problems Take your car to a mechanic and pay a diagnostic fee. Often, the fee is waived if you agree to have the necessary service performed at that garage. Bring your car to an auto parts store and have the code read for free. Buy an inexpensive scanner and read the code yourself.

How long does check engine light stay off after reset?

So why is the light still on? Here’s something you probably don’t know: after clearing the car’s computer you will need to drive for about 50 to 100 miles. As you drive your car the computer will monitor all the sensors and register the results.

How long does it take for check engine light to go off after replacing gas cap?

If it does not click in place or is loose after clicking into place the cap needs to be replaced. The check engine light should go off after you drive for several minutes if the light was caused by a loose gas cap. Pay attention to the dashboard after the check engine light experience.

What does the stop engine light mean?

Red Stop Engine Lamp Indicates that engine must be stopped as soon as it is safe to do so. Flashing Red Stop Engine Lamp Indicates driver has 30 seconds to stop vehicle safely before automatic engine shutdown (if the Engine Protection Shutdown feature is enabled).

How much does it cost to get engine light checked?

There’s a lot that goes on inside your engine, and rooting out the problem and fixing it can be a costly proposition. How costly? On average, the fee to have an auto mechanic diagnose a check engine light is $100.

Can you reset check engine light without disconnecting battery?

Turning the Ignition On and Off Switching the ignition on and off is also one method of hard reset without disconnecting batteries. Put the keys in your ignition and turn your ignition on and off consecutively after a second in each step. Once it is done, see if the engine check light is still coming on or not.

Will a new gas cap fix check engine light?

Fuel System Issues Faulty gas cap – Your vehicle is pretty good at warning you of any potential trouble. Something as simple as forgetting to replace the gas cap could cause your “check engine” light to come on. This is because the gas cap keeps vapors from escaping the fuel tank.

Why is my check engine light still on after changing O2 sensor?

The O2 sensor is just one out of hundreds of reasons the check engine light will come on. On some engines, the check engine light will turn itself off after the sensor is replaces, however, many require the code to be manually cleared with an ODB2 scanner.