It’s better to err on the side of caution when your check engine light comes on. This dashboard warning light is a catch-all for system problems that don’t have lights of their own. Problems in the exhaust system or transmission will trigger a check engine warning, as will issues in the electrical system. McCurley’s Shell would be happy to figure out why your check engine light came on. Whether you should drive your automobile to our station depends on the following.
Reasons Why a Check Engine Light Comes On
Your vehicle’s dashboard is designed to be your informant. You can see when you’re running low on gas, how hot the engine is, your driving speed and RPMs, and how many miles you have on your car. A series of dashboard lights also turn on and off to alert you of things such as low oil or tire pressure. The check engine will turn on if there is a problem, as well. Check engine problems include issues with the catalytic converter, fuel cap, mass airflow sensor, oxygen sensor, spark plugs, and vacuum hoses.
When You Should Stop Driving
To be completely honest, you should stop driving your vehicle when the check engine light comes on until you get the problem fixed. The reason why is simple: You don’t know what the problem is. When your low tire pressure light turns on, you know you need to pull into the next service station and add air to the tires. When the light comes on, you don’t know if your catalytic converter is dying or your spark plugs are misfiring. You could cause additional damage if you keep driving your car.
There is one exception: the gas cap. Your vehicle’s gas cap is in charge of creating a vacuum seal at the top of the tank to ensure no gas fumes escape. If the gas cap is too loose, the light will come on because a sensor is picking up vacuum pressure loss. When your check engine light first comes on, find a safe place to park and check your gas cap. Twist it off and back on again to make certain it is screwed on tightly. If this turns off the check engine light, that was the problem and you’re good to go.
If that didn’t solve the problem, contact us for a tow to McCurley’s Shell in Atlanta, GA. We’ll run a diagnostic test to find out why the check engine light came on and then fix it once you give us the okay.