Is It Dangerous to Drive with the Check Engine Light On?
We all know the moment of terror. You are driving down the highway enjoying your ride when suddenly the orange light comes on. The check engine light is probably the most misunderstood warning light in your car. The moment the check engine light comes on, your day goes from being good to bad. This is due to the fact that you are unsure if your car will make it back home.
At Arrowhead Imports, we are asked about this type of warning light regularly. Can you drive a car with the check engine light on? The bottom line as it relates to your safety has to do with how you are seeing this warning light come on and how your car is driving. While you may not have to call a tow truck to come and get you right away, you can’t simply ignore this warning light either.
The Usual Suspects for The Glow
It is very easy to assume the worst about your engine if this light is illuminated, but the reality of the situation is usually nothing of the kind. In fact, one of the things we hear about the most in the shop is a loose, damaged, or missing gas cap. If your gas cap is not tightly shut, gas vapor will be released, and the gas system in your car will lose pressure. This is what turns on the light.
The oxygen sensor is another culprit that can be responsible. This sensor is used to monitor the amount of oxygen that is left unburned in the exhaust system. But after a while, it becomes clogged with ash or oil and doesn’t work properly in order to provide the required information to the computer system of the vehicle. If that’s the case in your vehicle, then you are probably suffering from poor gas mileage because of that. We also often deal with the mass airflow sensor in vehicles.
Decoding the Signal: Solid vs. Flashing
The important thing to pay attention to when this light turns on is to see if it is flashing or steady. That is when a maintenance light and a roadside emergency differ.
When it is constant and solid, it means that it has been detected by your car computer, but it is not an emergency at this time. You can drive to your workplace or home if your vehicle is not making any unusual noises or smoking. You will need to get an appointment with professionals right away to diagnose what it is before it gets worse.
On the other hand, if your check engine light is flickering or blinking, it can be a very serious emergency that is occurring in your vehicle. Is it bad to drive with the check engine light on and flashing? In almost every instance, if your check engine light is flickering, it is a sign that there is a misfire occurring in your engine, and it is dumping raw fuel into your exhaust system, which has a tendency to heat up your catalytic converter to the point where it is glowing red hot and may even catch on fire.
The Price of Ignoring the Warning
Drivers will simply take the easy road by covering the light with a piece of electrical tape or by hoping for a resolution of the issue on its own, but in the end, they'll be shelling out a lot of cash for repairs. Driving a car with check engine light on with a "minor" issue like a bad oxygen sensor does not seem like a big deal, but in reality, it causes your engine to work too hard.
The component that might be most easily overlooked in a checkup is the catalytic converter. This component is very important when considering the emission levels. However, this component might be one of the most costly when considering a new car. Replacing a sensor will cost a couple of hundred dollars compared to the cost for a new catalytic converter. Also, in some states, your car will not pass inspection if the engine light is on.
Why You Need Expert Diagnostic Services
The modern-day car is a complex machine that uses computers to operate it. While it is possible to purchase a code reader at an auto parts store for a few dollars that would indicate a problem, it would not necessarily tell the whole picture. It might say that the sensor is “lean,” but it would not tell you if it is a sensor problem, a vacuum problem, or a fuel injector problem.
We use only the best diagnostic tools available and our expertise to figure out exactly what is happening under the hood at Arrowhead Imports. Our affordable Porsche service in Peoria is just one way our shop serves clients who demand the best for their vehicle, but we service many European vehicles. Our goal is a fix for the problem, rather than simply resetting the code and sending you on your merry way. We look at the connections for signs of leakage and check the sensor values.
Keep Your Vehicle Reliable
It does not have to be a nightmare watching that check engine light come on in your car. It is imperative that you know if it is blinking or steady and get it checked with us so that you do not have to perform major repairs in the future or be stuck with a car that is not reliable. Your dashboard is lit up, so call us today!