What Causes the Chery Engine Malfunction Light to Illuminate?
2 Answers
There are primarily 7 reasons why the engine malfunction light illuminates: Sensor failure: The sensors referred to here include those for coolant temperature, crankshaft position, air flow, intake temperature, oxygen sensors, etc. When these sensors are damaged, have poor connections, or experience signal interruptions, the vehicle's ECU cannot accurately obtain engine data, which triggers the engine malfunction light. Fuel quality issues: If fuel or engine oil is not added according to the manufacturer's requirements, it may cause engine wear, leading to the malfunction light illuminating. Poor combustion of the air-fuel mixture: Poor combustion can lead to engine carbon buildup or knocking. When detected by the oxygen sensor and reported to the ECU, the malfunction light will illuminate as a warning. Issues such as spark plug failure, ignition coil failure, fuel pump failure, or fuel line blockages can all cause poor combustion of the engine's air-fuel mixture. Turbocharging issues: Problems with the intake turbocharging pipeline or turbocharger can also cause the engine malfunction light to illuminate. The most common issue is turbocharger damage, accompanied by symptoms such as oil leaks, high oil consumption, reduced power, metallic noises, or blue/black smoke from the exhaust. Intake issues: If there are problems with the vehicle's air intake, it may lead to engine pipeline blockages, and in severe cases, trigger the engine malfunction light. A dirty air filter that is not regularly cleaned can cause intake problems. Exhaust issues: Exhaust system failures can also cause the engine malfunction light to illuminate. Common causes include rear oxygen sensor failure, catalytic converter issues, exhaust camshaft and bearing failures, with the catalytic converter being the most frequent culprit. Using leaded gasoline, lead or silicon-based lubricant additives, physical damage to the catalytic converter, or engine fuel system failures can easily lead to catalytic converter problems. Anti-theft system failure: If the vehicle's electronic anti-theft system malfunctions or if the anti-theft controller does not match the engine electronic controller, the anti-theft system can prevent the engine from operating normally, while also causing the engine malfunction light to illuminate. If the engine malfunction light illuminates, follow these steps: First, check if the engine is running normally, whether there is shaking, black smoke, etc. If such issues are present, avoid restarting the engine. Note: Do not restart the engine if the red warning light is on. If the engine can be started, turn it off for 5-10 minutes, then without pressing the brake, press the start button once or turn the key halfway to the 'on' position without depressing the clutch. The vehicle will perform a self-check upon powering up. Wait 5-10 seconds to see if the malfunction light on the dashboard turns off. If the malfunction light remains on, visit a service station as soon as possible to diagnose the issue. The service station can use a portable diagnostic tool to read the fault codes, obtain fault information, and perform targeted repairs.
From my personal experience, there are quite a few reasons why a Chery engine warning light might come on. Common causes include fuel system issues leading to incomplete combustion, clogged fuel injectors, or fuel pump failures, all of which can trigger the warning. It could also be an ignition problem, where aging spark plugs or faulty ignition coils cause unstable engine operation. Sensor malfunctions are also frequent culprits—oxygen sensors detecting excessive emission deviations may illuminate the light, or inaccurate air flow meters could disrupt the air-fuel ratio. Additionally, minor electrical issues like aging or short-circuited wiring can sometimes cause this. My advice is not to ignore it; promptly visit a professional shop to scan for specific trouble codes using an OBD diagnostic tool. Small issues can often be fixed easily, but prolonged neglect might damage the engine. Regular maintenance and using quality fuel can reduce such problems—safety first, after all.
