What Causes the Engine Malfunction Light to Illuminate and the Car to Fail to Start?
2 Answers
Engine malfunction light illuminating and the car failing to start can be caused by: 1. Poor quality or substandard gasoline; 2. Oxygen sensor malfunction; 3. Air flow sensor malfunction; 4. Spark plug carbon buildup or engine knocking. Solutions for the engine indicator light include: 1. Using high-quality gasoline; 2. Warming up the engine for one to two minutes before driving; 3. Reading the fault codes to identify and repair the issue. An engine is a machine that converts one form of energy into another, typically transforming chemical energy into mechanical energy. The engine malfunction light is one type of warning light; other engine-related warning lights include: 1. Oil pressure indicator; 2. Fuel indicator; 3. Battery indicator; 4. Coolant temperature indicator.
Last time I encountered this situation, it was really frustrating. The engine warning light was on and it just wouldn't start—most likely an issue with the ignition system. The spark plugs hadn't been changed in over three years, the electrode gaps were worn out, and the ignition coils might have aged. I remember the mechanic who towed the car said we also needed to check the crankshaft position sensor—if that thing fails, the ECU wouldn't even know the piston position. The fuel system needed inspection too—if the fuel pump wasn't delivering fuel or the fuel filter was clogged, the engine wouldn't meet the starting conditions. Even with sufficient battery voltage, a bad starter contact could prevent ignition. The advice was: if the warning light comes on, don't push your luck—get it professionally checked ASAP.
