What does it mean when the engine light comes on in a car?

1 Answers
BeckettAnn
07/29/25 11:43am
Causes for the car's engine warning light to illuminate are as follows: 1. Sensor issues: The sensors mentioned here include coolant temperature, crankshaft position, air flow, intake air temperature, oxygen sensors, etc. When these sensors are damaged, have poor contact, or signal interruption, the car's ECU cannot accurately obtain engine data, which will trigger the engine warning light. 2. Maintenance issues: Poor engine maintenance is the most common cause of the engine warning light illuminating. Vehicles have specific maintenance schedules. If the owner fails to adhere to regular maintenance and combines it with poor driving habits, it will increase the operational burden on the engine. 3. Fuel quality issues: This includes both fuel and engine oil. 4. Poor combustion of the air-fuel mixture: Faults in the engine's spark plugs, ignition coils, fuel pump, or clogged fuel lines can all lead to poor combustion of the air-fuel mixture. Poor combustion results in engine carbon buildup or knocking issues, which are ultimately detected by the engine's oxygen sensor and reported to the ECU, naturally triggering the warning light as an alert. 5. Intake issues: The engine requires air intake during combustion, making the air filter crucial. If the car's air filter is dirty and not cleaned regularly, it can affect the engine's air intake. Over time, this can lead to blockages, and in severe cases, cause the engine warning light to illuminate. 6. Turbocharger issues: Problems with the intake boost pipes or turbocharger can also cause the engine warning light to come on. The most common issue is a damaged turbocharger, accompanied by symptoms such as oil leaks, high oil consumption, reduced power, metallic noises, or blue/black smoke from the exhaust. 7. Exhaust issues: This includes the rear oxygen sensor, catalytic converter, exhaust camshaft, and bearings. The most common cause is a faulty catalytic converter leading to the engine warning light. Factors such as using leaded gasoline, lead or silicon-based lubricant additives, physical damage to the catalytic converter, or faults in the engine's fuel supply system can easily cause catalytic converter failures.
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