What does the faucet-like light in a car indicate as a fault?
2 Answers
The faucet-like light in a car is the engine fault light. Generally, when the engine fault light is on, it indicates a problem with the car's engine or surrounding components. Below are the reasons why the engine fault light may illuminate: 1. Poor fuel quality: Most car owners have experienced this—shortly after refueling, the engine fault light on the dashboard comes on. This is usually due to filling up at an unregulated gas station with poor-quality fuel, causing incomplete combustion of the air-fuel mixture during engine operation and triggering the engine fault light. This does not affect driving safety but may harm the engine to some extent. 2. Oxygen sensor failure: Cars are equipped with two oxygen sensors, one before and one after the three-way catalytic converter. The front oxygen sensor detects the air-fuel ratio under different engine conditions, and the ECU adjusts the fuel injection amount and calculates the ignition timing based on this signal.
Yesterday, a small light shaped like a faucet lit up on my car's dashboard, but I didn't panic. Experience told me it was the check engine light, which can illuminate for many reasons—maybe there's an issue with the exhaust system, or a sensor like the oxygen sensor is faulty, affecting emission efficiency. Another time, it was simply because the gas cap wasn't tightened properly, causing fuel vapor leakage and triggering the warning. Ignoring it could lead to increased fuel consumption or even engine damage. My advice is to first check if the cap is secure after parking. If the light remains on, it's best to visit a professional shop to scan for specific trouble codes with diagnostic equipment before repairs—safety first. Don't underestimate it; delaying repairs long-term might end up costing more.
