Check Engine Light On? Read This To Find Out Why

Has your Check Engine light come on recently (or at all)? Did you feel that instant panic? That sinking sensation in your stomach? Well, you can rest easy because there are five reasons (well, the five most common reasons) that we’ll be telling you for your check engine light to have come on. Only five! And one of them is a really easy fix. So, please. Relax, sit back, and absorb the heck out of this important information.

1. It could be your gas cap. Seriously, if your gas cap is loose or broken or cracked or totally missing, this could be what’s making that light come on. So if the light appears, the first thing you should do is check on your gas cap. It’s a possibility that that’s the solution. If the cap is broken or missing, your dealer can replace it for wiiiicked cheap.

2. Spark plugs are also a likely culprit. Everyone needs to get them replaced every so often (usually about 100,000 miles in newer cars) and it might just be that time for you.

3. Your Mass Airflow Sensor could be to blame. This part tells your car’s computer to add the right amount of fuel based on the amount of air that’s coming in to the engine. When this piece is broken, your emissions increase, your efficiency decreases, and your car might stall.

4. Maybe your oxygen sensor(s) are to blame. Your O2 sensors monitor the unburned oxygen in your exhaust, which tells your vehicle’s computer how much fuel is being burned in your engine. When the sensor is broken, your mileage can decrease. Don’t wait too long to get this checked out, because you run the risk of burning out your…

5. Catalytic converter! This is also a reason your check engine light might be coming on. If this part is broken or faulty, it won’t reduce your exhaust gases like it’s supposed to, which in turn will decrease your MPGs and mess with your acceleration. Get this fixed IMMEDIATELY, even though it is the most expensive repair on the list.