What Causes the Engine Malfunction Light to Illuminate in a Car?
2 Answers
Reasons for the engine malfunction light illuminating in a car: 1. Sensor issues; 2. Maintenance problems; 3. Fuel quality issues; 4. Poor mixture combustion; 5. Air intake problems; 6. Loose fuel tank cap; 7. Air filter issues; 8. Anti-theft system malfunction. Solutions for the engine malfunction light illuminating: 1. Replace the oxygen sensor; 2. Replace the catalytic converter; 3. Tighten or replace the fuel tank cap; 4. Replace the thermostat; 5. Replace the ignition coil; 6. Replace the mass airflow sensor; 7. Regular maintenance, follow the time cycle on the vehicle maintenance card for scheduled maintenance.
The engine warning light coming on is really not uncommon, I've encountered it several times myself while driving. The most common causes are faulty sensors, like when the oxygen sensor gets dirty and the engine can't figure out the combustion situation, immediately triggering the warning light. Worn-out spark plugs are also frequent culprits - misfires will trigger trouble codes. Even something as simple as not tightening the gas cap properly can set off the alarm - last time I was in a hurry while refueling and just gave it a quick twist, the light stayed on for hours. The exhaust system loves causing trouble too - a clogged catalytic converter or loose oxygen sensor wiring can make the engine issue immediate warnings. Of course the most annoying is fuel quality problems - putting substandard gasoline from small gas stations makes the computer immediately detect abnormal combustion. Oh, modern engines are particularly smart now - transmission jerking or dirty mass airflow sensors will trigger linked warnings. When you see the light come on, definitely don't stomp on the accelerator - if you notice unstable idling or black smoke from the exhaust, pulling over immediately is much safer.
