When your car gets a check engine light, also known as a CEL, it is easy to assume the worst, especially if you are on your way to work. The good news, however, is that these are often simply sensors or other small components that have gone out. While it definitely needs to be addressed, most check engine lights are not going to destroy your car if you drive it during this time. If you have gotten the code read and still don’t know the problem, or if it is intermittent, then check these couple of things before you go to the mechanic.
Gas Cap
Surprisingly, automotive gas caps can lead to a CEL. This is because the system relies on a nearly complete seal in the gas tank for the pump to work properly. If the seal on your gas cap has gone bad, then it can cause a check engine light that is not only difficult to find but once found is often painfully easy to fix. Gas caps are fairly cheap, so be sure to try replacing your before you spend money to hire a mechanic.
Failing Sensors
Oxygen sensors are the most common culprit here. These sensors are exposed to exhaust gasses and extreme heat constantly when you are driving, so it should not be a surprise to find out that they fail more often than other sensors. They are also more affected by changes in the exhaust gasses. For example, if your engine is running rich for some reason then more carbon will be deposited onto the sensor and lead to premature failure. Oxygen sensors and other sensors are not always cheap, but they are usually easy to repair. In fact, anyone with a wrench can replace most oxygen sensors. This is because they are simply threaded into the exhaust pipe, then connected with a quick connect.
These are just two very simple, easy to fix issues that are common causes of those hard to diagnose check engine lights. Before you pay someone to work on your car, be sure to check these first.
