One of the most frustrating aspects of owning a vehicle is when the check engine light comes on for seemingly no reason. You’re driving along normally and suddenly the light comes on to let you know you need to stop in for service. If this has ever happened to you, you know how stressful and annoying it can be. If you’re wondering why your check engine light has come on, it could be one of the reasons listed below. At Peruzzi Toyota, we can discover, diagnose, and fix any problem that is causing the check engine light to come on in your vehicle. Bring your car in to our service center and we’ll find out which of the following problems (or any other problem) is affecting your car.
Gas Cap Problems
A gas cap that is loose, missing, or broken might cause your check engine light to come on. If you’ve noticed your light has come on shortly after you’ve filled up your tank at a gas station, this could be your issue. A loose gas cap can cause fuel vapors to leark and lead to an incorrect balance of pressure in your engine. Luckily, this issue is relatively easy to diagnose and fix and you can usually be on your way quickly.
Malfunctioning Oxygen Sensor
If your issue is not merely a loose gas cap, it could be one of several other more serious problems including a problem with your oxygen sensor. The oxygen sensor measures how much unburned oxygen flows through your engine. If it is not functioning properly, it could cause you to burn up to 40% more gas than your vehicle normally does. This could also lead to spark plug damage. It’s important to get this issue fixed as quickly as possible to avoid fuel inefficiency and long term damage to other parts of your vehicle.
Catalytic Converter Need Replacing
The catalytic converter is one of the most important features of a vehicle for the environment. It changes a car’s harmful carbon monoxide emissions into carbon dioxide. If it’s not working correctly, your check engine light will come on to let you know. You will probably also notice a decease in your vehicle’s performance and an increase in its running temperature if the catalytic converter is malfunctioning. Perhaps most importantly, a broken cat converter will cause you to fail an emissions test and therefore, state inspection.
Mass Airflow Sensor is Not Working
Another possible reason why your check engine light could be on is that your vehicle’s mass airflow sensor is not working properly. This part of your car measures how much air is going into your engine and adjusts your fuel consumption accordingly. It’s a necessary part of making sure your vehicle runs at peak efficiency and performance. When there is a malfunction, you will be using more gas and it could have a negative effect on everything from your catalytic converter to spark plugs.
There are many reasons why the check engine light might come on in your vehicle. It could be a sign of a serious problem with your car and could prevent your vehicle from passing inspection. At Peruzzi Toyota’s service center, we can diagnose and fix any issue that may be causing your light to come on. While you’re here, check out our full lineup of over 130 new Toyota vehicles including the Corolla, Camry, RAV4, and Tacoma, as well as our selection over 520 used vehicles from many different manufacturers. Visit us at 2601 Bethlehem Pike in Hatfield, PA today!
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