The malfunction indicator light, also known as the check engine light, is an alert that something is wrong with your vehicle. Even if it seems like a minor issue, it’s best to address it promptly.
This indicator is essential for your vehicle’s computer to stay in touch with you and help avoid costly problems down the line.
Check Engine Light
The malfunction indicator light (MIL) is an integral component of your car’s onboard diagnostics system, which monitors and controls engine performance. It alerts drivers when an issue arises and lets them know if they need to take their car into a mechanic or repair shop for assistance.
The MIL can illuminate for many reasons, but some of the most frequent are a loose gas cap, broken oxygen sensor or misfiring engine. Neglecting to address these issues may cause serious harm to your engine.
A constantly lit MIL is an indication that something is seriously wrong with your vehicle’s emission control system, and it should be taken to a mechanic immediately. To prevent this issue from arising, check your fuel level regularly, tighten the gas cap if necessary, and minimize driving load as much as possible.
Other potential causes of MIL include extremely low oil pressure, driving at high speeds or towing heavy loads. All these issues can put undue strain on your engine and require professional diagnosis to resolve.
Your vehicle’s engine control unit (ECU) uses sensors to monitor and record various activities related to its engine, transmission and emissions. When an issue arises, the ECU will send a code to your onboard computer which in turn illuminates a light on the dashboard as an alert that an important component of its emission control system requires inspection by a mechanic.
Your engine light should flash for a short period of time before going out after several driving trips. Additionally, make sure that any potential emission control system malfunctions have been repaired before turning off the light.
Fortunately, you have several tools at your disposal to assist in diagnosing and resetting the malfunction indicator light on your car. You can purchase an inexpensive code reader from an auto parts store, or search online websites like Engine Light Help to learn the meanings behind error codes. Alternatively, take your vehicle to a trusted mechanic who will use their scan tool to diagnose what’s triggering the light.
Fuel Filter
The fuel filter is an integral component of your engine’s fuel system, preventing dirt and debris from reaching your engine. Made of porous material, these filters trap sediments and other impurities before they reach the injectors and engine.
Clogged fuel filters cause your engine to run lean and less powerful than expected, which is one of the many reasons why it’s essential to change your filter regularly. Not only will this boost efficiency in running, but it will also extend engine life.
Clogged fuel filters in cars can cause engine starting issues. Your car may take a long time to start up, or you may even struggle with turning the key.
Additionally, a clogged fuel filter can cause your car to misfire occasionally, especially while accelerating. This is an issue as it will damage the engine and send its internal computer into limp mode which significantly slows down your vehicle.
Your tachometer may indicate this issue, with its needle moving up and down irregularly. Your engine may be running low on fuel, causing it to stutter or vibrate as it attempts to obtain some.
If you observe many of these warning signs and symptoms, replacing your fuel filter is a wise idea. Not only will a malfunctioning filter affect how smoothly your engine runs, but it could also pose risks to both you and other drivers on the road.
Regularly replacing your filter can help you avoid these unexpected problems and keep your vehicle running optimally. It is wise to consult both your owner’s manual or a mechanic about when it is best to replace your filter.
A malfunctioning fuel filter can cause your engine to hesitate when trying to accelerate or drive uphill, giving the impression that your car may stall or “buck”. For emergency repairs in the event of a fuel filter malfunction, contact MBClinic right away!
Oxygen Sensor
When you see the malfunction indicator light on your car’s dashboard, it’s usually an indication that something is amiss and requires attention. The oxygen sensor plays a significant role in your vehicle’s emissions system and may be responsible for issues such as engine misfiring, rough idle, lack of power and stalling.
An O2 sensor working properly provides data to your car’s engine management computer about how much fuel to inject into its engine. This knowledge helps determine whether your mixture is lean or rich, and if it’s too lean, your car’s gas mileage will suffer as a result.
An O2 sensor works much like a battery. It contains a crystal that detects oxygen concentrations in air or exhaust, and produces voltage when there is more oxygen on one side of the crystal than another.
A typical reading of the O2 sensor ranges from 100 millivolts (lean) to 900 millivolts (rich). Your engine management computer uses this data to optimize engine performance and minimize emissions.
Given how essential an O2 sensor is to your engine’s operation, it should come as no surprise that they’re quite expensive. Depending on the model of your car, you may need to replace your O2 sensor every 30,000 to 50,000 miles or five years depending on usage.
Once you detect that your car isn’t performing as expected, take it to a reliable mechanic for an inspection. They can use a scan tool to watch the engine and check to see if an oxygen sensor is causing the issues with your engine.
Once your mechanic diagnoses the issue, you can decide whether to repair it yourself or have a professional replace it. The cost of an O2 sensor varies based on your car’s make and model; however, most are relatively inexpensive to replace.
Sustainability-wise, you should recycle O2 sensors and other parts such as spark plugs and catalytic converters that contain precious metals. Doing so can create a lucrative revenue stream from components with less value in the current market.
Spark Plugs
Spark plugs are an integral part of your car’s engine, necessary for starting and keeping the engine running smoothly during your journey. Without them, you would not be able to begin your vehicle.
Spark plugs work by taking in electricity to create a spark, which ignites the air-fuel mixture in your cylinders. This conversion of chemical energy in fuel into kinetic energy propels your engine’s pistons forward, giving you power to get where you need to go.
When a spark plug fails, it may cause your check engine light to illuminate. This indicates that something is wrong with how your engine is operating.
You’ll know if your spark plugs are malfunctioning when they look different than normal. White electrodes indicate too much air in your engine’s fuel mixture, while black ones indicate there’s too little. If there is a heavy black residue on your spark plug, that means oil has entered into the combustion chamber and created an issue.
Another thing you can do is monitor the gap between your spark plugs. It’s normal for this gap to widen over time as your spark plugs wear down and lose their capacity to deliver precise amounts of spark at precisely the right moment.
Manufacturers select a plug heat range that balances between keeping the tip of the spark plug hot enough to prevent fouling and cold enough for preignition and engine knocking – usually between 900 and 1,450 degrees Fahrenheit. This helps prevent these problems.
Other elements that affect the performance of your spark plugs include their material and the shape of your combustion chamber. However, the most critical factor is the gap between their electrodes. If these are too close together, it will reduce the amount of electricity delivered to the air-fuel mixture and raise fuel consumption.
