Why is My Check Engine Light On?

Reasons Your Check Engine Light May Be On

When you’re driving, you might notice that your check engine light begins to decorate your dashboard. This can be incredibly stressful, as depending on what the problem is, you might be facing direct damage to your engine. When you want to get the issue solved quickly near Abilene, Sweetwater, or Roscoe, you’ll want to make your way to Stanley Ford Sweetwater, where you’ll be serviced by our talented team of mechanics. 

A Simple Fix

While there can be quite a few causes for your check engine light, you’ll want to rule out some of these options first.

• Your Battery Is Giving Out: Your battery won’t last forever, so if you’re having issues already, you’ll want to have it checked. Without the proper amount of voltage, you can expect your check engine light to quickly follow. 
• Your Oxygen Sensors Are Wearing Out: Your oxygen sensors work by monitoring your air-to-fuel ratio so that your vehicle’s computer can accurately measure your fuel efficiency. When they go out, your model may not provide you with the mileage you’re used to.
• Your Gas Cap Is Loose: If your gas cap isn’t secured properly, you might be letting fuel vapors escape from your vehicle. This can cause your EVAP system, and your engine, to struggle when driving. 
• Your Mass Airflow Sensor Is Faulty: You’ll want to keep a close eye on this sensor, as when it goes bad, you might run into everything from lower fuel efficiency to outright stalling. 

Bigger Problems

If your sensors are fine and your gas cap is secured, you might have a bigger problem on your hands. It could potentially be:

• It’s an EGR Valve Problem: When your vehicle is running, your EGR valve helps to reduce the emission of nitrogen oxides. When it isn’t functioning properly though, you might find that you struggle to accelerate. 
• It’s a Problem with Your Catalytic Converter: You’ll want to keep a close eye on your catalytic converter as it’s not only great for the environment, but when it becomes damaged, you might see decreased fuel efficiency and higher operating temperatures. 
• It’s Your Spark Plugs: Bad spark plugs can keep your vehicle from starting, but before that happens, you might notice a significant decrease in power and efficiency, as they’re responsible for igniting the mixture of gas and fuel at just the right moment. 
• It’s a Vacuum Leak: If your vacuum system is having issues, you’re going to want to head to the nearest mechanic immediately, as there are a lot of moving parts that are going to need to be inspected.

Our Team

Regardless of what your problem is, our team is ready to handle it at Stanley Ford Sweetwater. Once you arrive, our mechanics will be able to give your vehicle a thorough inspection, so that you have a reliable diagnosis. While you wait, you’ll be able to enjoy our lobby, and you can even opt to get some of your routine maintenance out of the way, like your next oil change or tire rotation. This will make sure that when you leave the dealership, your vehicle has everything it could possibly need. When you want to get the check engine light off of your dashboard, we have you covered.