What Causes the Engine Light to Illuminate in a Newly Purchased Car?
2 Answers
Newly purchased car engine light illumination is caused by: unclean fuel leading to contamination or blockage of the fuel supply system. Currently, some vehicles are equipped with exhaust emission monitoring systems. As these control systems can very sensitively detect vehicle exhaust emissions and fuel cleanliness conditions, the use of unclean fuel can cause contamination in the fuel supply, ignition, and emission systems, leading to the engine malfunction indicator light illuminating and varying degrees of engine vibration. An effective solution is: after thoroughly cleaning the contaminated system, consistently add gasoline with stable performance indicators and a quantitative amount of fuel system cleaner, and the situation will improve.
I recently bought a new car, and it drives really well, but after just a few days the engine light came on, which made me a bit nervous. This light indicates a problem, and for a new car, the main reasons could be sensor calibration errors, such as an oxygen sensor or mass airflow sensor that wasn't properly adjusted during production, causing false alarms. Or it could be that the fuel cap wasn't tightened properly, triggering the fuel vapor leak detection system. Occasionally, new cars have assembly issues, and loose wiring connections can also set off the light. Some problems are due to software bugs that require firmware updates. I recommend you go to a 4S shop or service station as soon as possible—they have specialized OBD diagnostic tools to read the fault codes, and repairs are free under warranty. Don't delay driving it; while it might not cause immediate harm, long-term issues could affect emissions or engine efficiency. A new car should run smoothly, so it's best to address any problems right away.
