Causes of car Check Engine light and how to fix it
The Check Engine light comes on when the car engine or related systems have a problem, so what should you do then?
What is the Check Engine Light?
The Check Engine light is a fault indicator light when the car engine or related systems have errors and is usually located in the instrument cluster behind the steering wheel. This type of light is yellow and the car Check Engine symbol looks quite similar to a goldfish, so the Check Engine error is also called "goldfish error" by many people.
The ECM (Electronic Control Module, located in the ECU) engine control block directly receives information from vehicle sensors, then processes and sends commands to control the entire operation of the engine such as controlling the fuel injector, valve opening, ignition coil timing to supply power to the spark plugs...
When the ECM detects that the sensor information has a different value than normal or the signal is lost, the ECM will command the Check Engine light to turn on to notify the driver.
Causes of Check Engine Light
When the vehicle is first started, all the fault indicator lights located on the central instrument cluster usually come on and then go out, indicating that the system has been started and is in normal operating condition. However, if the vehicle has an engine fault, the Check Engine light will stay on or flash continuously without going out.
This Check Engine light error usually occurs due to the following reasons:
Spark plug:The Check Engine light error is usually due to a problem with the spark plug such as wear and dirt, a broken spark plug connector or high voltage wire. These errors can cause the spark plug to emit a weak spark or not at the right time, greatly affecting the combustion process of the air-fuel mixture, reducing engine performance, causing the engine to vibrate, the car to jerk when accelerating, the car to stall while running, etc.
Ignition coil:The car's ignition coil is usually responsible for generating high voltage for the spark plug to create a spark to ignite the fuel and air mixture in the engine cylinder. If the ignition coil is damaged, it will affect the spark plug, then the car's check engine light will glow yellow.
Fuel injector:Fuel injectors assist in supplying fuel to the combustion chamber. If the injector is used for many days without being cleaned, it can easily become clogged due to deposits and rust, seriously affecting the engine's operation. When the ECM detects a faulty injector, the car's Check Engine light will light up as a warning.
Gasoline vapor control system:The fuel vapor control system is responsible for absorbing gasoline vapor as it passes through the filter into the combustion chamber, preventing gasoline vapor from escaping from the fuel tank. When this system malfunctions, the system will signal the car to display a check engine error light. If the fuel tank cap is not closed tightly, the car will also display a check engine error.
Therefore, if you see the check engine light on, one of the first steps you should take is to check the fuel tank cap.
Exhaust gas recirculation system:The exhaust gas recirculation system is responsible for bringing exhaust gas back to mix with intake air to reduce NOx concentration. After a long period of operation, the exhaust gas recirculation control valve or the piping system may become clogged due to dirt or soot, at which point the ECM system will turn on the check engine light to notify.
How to fix Check Engine light error
When the Check Engine light is on, if the car has minor errors, the engine can still operate normally. However, do not be subjective because if not fixed soon, the car's error can become more serious.
At this time, for best safety, the driver should only operate the vehicle at a speed range below 40 km/h and then take the vehicle to the garage to check for errors immediately.
If the Check Engine light is flashing continuously, this is a sign of an emergency situation, the engine may be overheating or the catalyst is overheating. Continuing to drive could cause serious damage to the vehicle's operating system, even causing the vehicle to catch fire. Therefore, it is best to find a safe place to stop the vehicle and call for a tow truck to have the vehicle towed to a garage for inspection.