Think of your car’s dashboard as a convenient warning system for your vehicle. When conditions are urgent enough for you to visit your local auto maintenance center, it will do its best to let you know. If your dashboard’s “Check Engine” light recently lit up, there are numerous possible reasons why. Learn about some of the most common causes below.

5 Possible Triggers for Your Dashboard’s Engine Light

1. Loose Fuel Cap

The gas cap keeps the fuel system sealed to maintain fuel tank pressure and prevent gasoline fumes from escaping. Years of use wear on the cap, loosening it and allowing air into the tank. Air subsequently travels into the fuel lines, causing the engine to misfire due to air-fuel mixture imbalances that affect combustion. A loose cap also causes fuel evaporation that decreases gas mileage.

2. Failing Oxygen Sensor

Your car’s oxygen sensor determines the volume of unburned oxygen in the exhaust system. It helps the vehicle’s computer regulate the air-fuel mixture flowing through cylinders to keep the engine functional. A failing oxygen sensor lowers fuel economy by burning excessive gasoline. It can also damage the spark plugs and catalytic converter since more oxygen makes the mixture too rich, resulting in bigger explosions.

3. Problematic Spark Plug

As the spark plugs igniting the air-fuel mixture in your car’s combustion chamber wear out, the engine will start to misfire. You may also notice hesitation issues when you hit the gas pedal and decreased fuel economy because of poor engine performance.

4. Bad Catalytic Converter

The catalytic converter takes carbon monoxide from the engine combustion process and turns it into carbon dioxide to reduce your car’s environmental impact. It eventually clogs with combustion residue and fails quickly without routine auto maintenance, resulting in a hotter vehicle, reduced engine capacity and fuel economy, and a failed emissions test during a vehicle inspection.

5. Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor Problem

Without a functional mass airflow sensor, which lets air into the combustion chamber, your car cannot regulate the amount of air entering the chamber at a time. As noted above, excessive oxygen in the chamber creates a bigger explosion. It also causes the engine to misfire by creating sooty spark plugs and decreases fuel economy because the car keeps dumping gasoline into the motor to make it run. 

Whether your engine light is on or you’re experiencing another auto issue, take your vehicle to Brothers Tire Sales in Kannapolis, NC. The family-owned tire supplier and auto maintenance center has served the region for over 50 years, providing tires by top brands like Michelin® and BFGoodrich®, as well as oil changes and brake repairs. Schedule auto maintenance today by calling (704) 933-2203. Visit them online to learn more about their services.