How Many Reasons Are There for the Engine Fault Light?

[StLucia]

There are mainly 7 reasons for the engine fault light to illuminate: Sensor malfunction: The sensors mentioned here include coolant temperature, crankshaft position, air flow, intake temperature, oxygen sensors, etc. When these sensors are damaged, have poor contact, or experience signal interruption, the car's ECU cannot accurately obtain engine data, which will cause the engine fault light to illuminate. Fuel quality issues: If fuel and engine oil are not added as required by the manufacturer, it may cause engine wear and trigger the fault light. Poor combustion of the air-fuel mixture: Poor combustion can lead to engine carbon deposits or knocking. When detected by the oxygen sensor and reported to the ECU, the fault light will illuminate as a warning. Issues such as faulty spark plugs, ignition coils, fuel pump, or clogged fuel lines can cause poor combustion of the air-fuel mixture. Turbocharging problems: The intake turbocharging pipeline or turbocharger can also cause the engine fault light to illuminate. The most common issue is turbocharger damage, accompanied by symptoms like oil leakage, excessive oil consumption, reduced power, metallic noises, or blue/black smoke from the exhaust. Intake problems: If the car's intake system malfunctions, it may lead to clogged engine pipelines, and in severe cases, the engine fault light will illuminate. A dirty or uncleaned air filter can cause intake issues. Exhaust problems: Exhaust faults can also trigger the engine fault light. Common causes include faulty rear oxygen sensors, catalytic converters, exhaust camshafts, or bearings, with the catalytic converter being the most frequent issue. Using leaded gasoline, lead- or silicon-based lubricant additives, physical damage to the catalytic converter, or fuel system malfunctions can easily cause catalytic converter failure. Anti-theft system malfunction: If the car's electronic anti-theft system fails or the anti-theft controller does not match the engine ECU, the anti-theft system can prevent the engine from operating normally and illuminate the fault light. If the engine fault light is on, follow these steps: First, check if the engine is running normally. Look for issues like shaking or black smoke. If present, avoid restarting the engine. Note: Do not restart if the red light is on. If the engine can start, turn it off for 5-10 minutes. Without pressing the brake, press the start button once or turn the key halfway to the 'ON' position (without depressing the clutch). The car will perform a self-check after powering on. Wait 5-10 seconds to see if the fault light turns off. If the light remains on, visit a service station as soon as possible. Technicians can use a portable diagnostic tool to read fault codes, identify the issue, and perform targeted repairs.