Should You Worry About Your Check Engine Light Being On?

A "Check Engine" light can be a headache for any  vehicle owner. It has to be one of the most frustrating and confusing facets of owning a vehicle. It's just a light with no information telling you what the problem is.




The Check Engine light — more formally known as the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) — is a signal from the car's engine computer that something is wrong.



Occasionally, the Check Engine light comes on when nothing is wrong with the car. It could  just be a temporary problem caused by a change in humidity or other factors. In this case the  light should go off by itself after a short time.




Five most common are causes  are :



•O2 sensor
•Loose gas cap

•Catalytic converter

•Mass air flow sensor (monitoring the amount of air mixed in the fuel injection system)

•Spark plug wires


  Check Engine lights come in orange, yellow or amber, depending on the manufacturer. If the light begins flashing can be a   more serious problem

What to do ....

Check to make sure your gas cap is on and give it a few more clicks to tighten it up.

 If that doesn't work, head to a mechanic or an auto parts store -- it's best to get a professional to diagnose the problem ( and some will even perform this service for free) .

Remember ... Even though the vehicle  could be driving just fine, you may be wasting fuel, putting out lots of pollution and damaging the engine.