What is the reason for the Chery engine malfunction light being on but the car running normally?
2 Answers
The engine malfunction light being on may be a warning, indicating that certain system parameters of the car may have exceeded the set range. At this time, the car can continue to drive, and the light is generally yellow. There is also a more serious situation where the light is red, indicating a very severe malfunction. The car may still be able to drive, but for safety reasons, it must be stopped immediately, the engine turned off, and driving prohibited until the fault is checked. There are mainly 7 reasons for the engine malfunction light being on: Sensor malfunction: The sensors mentioned here include water temperature, crankshaft position, air flow, intake 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 cause the engine malfunction light to come on. Fuel quality issue: If fuel and engine oil are not added according to the manufacturer's requirements, it may cause engine wear, leading to the malfunction light coming on. Poor mixture combustion: Poor mixture combustion can cause engine carbon deposits or knocking. After being detected by the oxygen sensor and reported to the ECU, the malfunction light will come on as a warning. Spark plug failure, ignition coil failure, fuel pump failure, fuel line blockage, etc., can all cause poor mixture combustion in the engine. Turbocharging issue: The intake turbocharging pipeline and turbocharger can also cause the engine malfunction light to come on. The most common is turbocharger damage, accompanied by symptoms such as oil leakage, high oil consumption, power loss, metal noise, and blue or black smoke from the exhaust pipe. Intake issue: If there is a problem with the car's intake, it may cause engine pipeline blockage, and in severe cases, the engine malfunction light will come on. If the air filter is not clean and not regularly cleaned, it can lead to intake problems. Exhaust issue: Exhaust malfunction can also cause the engine malfunction light to come on. Rear oxygen sensor, three-way catalytic converter, exhaust camshaft, and bearing failures are all causes of exhaust problems, with the three-way catalytic converter being the most common. Using leaded gasoline, lead or silicon-containing lubricant additives, physical damage to the three-way catalytic converter, or engine fuel supply system failures can easily cause three-way catalytic converter malfunctions. Anti-theft system malfunction: If the car's electronic anti-theft system malfunctions, or the anti-theft controller does not match the engine electronic controller, the anti-theft system can also cause the engine to not work properly, and the engine malfunction light will come on. If the engine malfunction light is on, you can follow these steps: First, pay attention to whether the engine is running normally, whether there is shaking, smoke, etc. If so, try not to start it again. Especially note that if the light is red, do not start the engine again. If the engine can start, turn it off for 5-10 minutes, then without pressing the brake, press the start button once, or without pressing the clutch, turn the key halfway to the 'on' position. The car will perform a self-check after powering on. Wait for 5-10 seconds and observe whether the malfunction light on the dashboard goes off. If the malfunction light does not go off, please go to a service station as soon as possible to find the cause. The service station can read the fault code with a portable diagnostic tool to obtain fault information and perform targeted repairs.
Last time I saw the engine warning light on my Chery car was lit, but the car drove perfectly fine, which puzzled me. As a veteran driver with over 20 years of experience, I’ve encountered similar situations several times, and they usually turn out to be minor issues. For example, a faulty oxygen sensor—which monitors exhaust emissions—can trigger the light if it’s too dirty or worn out, without affecting performance. Another possibility is poor fuel quality causing a fuel system alert, or a slightly clogged throttle body. Although the car still runs, it’s unwise to ignore it, as delaying repairs could damage the engine or emission system. I recommend immediately visiting a reliable repair shop to scan for trouble codes with a diagnostic tool. Also, always opt for high-quality fuel and maintain regular upkeep of parts like fuel injectors to prevent such issues.
