Don’t Check Out. Check It Out.

Give Attention to Check Engine Lights

Whether you’re making the hour commute into Washington, D.C. every day, or just getting the kids across town to a soccer game, you don’t want to see your car’s check engine light come on.  If it does, don’t panic.  You’re not in danger of your vehicle breaking down between this stoplight and the elementary school.  However, you cannot drive the car long term without risking damage and/or more expensive repairs, so don’t ignore it.  Instead, have the ASE certified technicians at  EuroService Automotive in Warrenton, Virginia, identify and repair the underlying issue.

And the Issues Is…?

Of course, we can’t tell you what has triggered the check engine warning until we look at your vehicle.  There are, however, some common causes that we often see.

Bad Oxygen Sensor

For instance, the oxygen sensor may have gone bad.  It measures the amount of unburned oxygen in the exhaust.  When it needs to be replaced, your auto will run less efficiently and burn additional fuel.  If not repaired, the situation may progress to spark plug or catalytic converter damage.

Lost Gas Cap

Another problem could be a damaged or loose gas cap.  When the cap doesn’t fit properly, it can allow fuel to leak or evaporate as well as cause the warning lamp to illuminate.

Bad Catalytic Converter

Converting carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, the catalytic converter can also malfunction and cause the check engine warning.  If the catalytic converter is bad, your engine doesn’t perform as well, uses more fuel, and may even run hotter than normal.

Bad Mass Airflow Sensor

Also, the mass airflow sensor can trigger the warning if it needs replacing.  Measuring the amount of air entering the engine enables the vehicle to determine how much fuel is needed for efficient engine performance.  Ignoring this issue decreases gas mileage and performance.  Further, it can lead to the catalytic converter, spark plug, or oxygen sensor damage.

Worn Spark Plugs

Another issue might be damaged or worn spark plug wires or old spark plugs.  These are needed for igniting the fuel-air combination in the cylinders, so failure to replace them when needed yields poor fuel economy and performance.  It can also lead to catalytic converter, ignition coil, and oxygen sensor damage.

Check-In, Check Out

If your check engine light has come on, don’t mentally check out.  Ignoring the problem doesn’t make it go away, and it can lead to more expensive repairs.  As soon as possible, check in with EuroService Automotive in Warrenton, Virginia.  We’ll check out the problem, connecting your car to an OBD-II reader and using the trouble code to point us in the right direction.  Then we’ll pinpoint the specific issue and make the repair, allowing you to check out of our shop quickly and check back in on your life without worry.