What's the reason for the engine light being on but the car driving normally?
3 Answers
Here are the reasons why the engine light is on but the car is driving normally: 1. The vehicle's exhaust emissions do not meet the standards, mainly due to excessive carbon deposits. 2. There is a malfunction in the internal components of the engine system. 3. There is a fault in the transmission system. In this case, you can continue driving temporarily, but for safety reasons, it is recommended to drive at low to medium speeds and immediately take the car to a nearby repair shop for inspection. Additional information: Here are the consequences of not addressing the engine light promptly: The temperature in the engine combustion chamber increases, wear and tear accelerate, fuel consumption rises, and it may even lead to premature engine damage, ultimately resulting in poorer exhaust emissions and environmental pollution.
Brothers who just encountered this situation, don't panic. My car's engine light was on last week too, and it still ran smoothly. I specifically checked professional materials - when this damn light is on but the car can still run, there's an 80% chance it's the exhaust system acting up. Minor issues like carbon buildup on the oxygen sensors are the most common culprits for this kind of false alarm, as they're responsible for exhaust monitoring. Another possibility could be the fuel cap not being tightened properly - it really can be that simple! However, I must remind you, if you simultaneously notice sluggish acceleration or a sudden spike in fuel consumption, it might indicate issues with the spark plugs or catalytic converter. I recommend you quickly use an OBD scanner to read the trouble codes. The one I have at home only cost about a hundred bucks - just plug it into the OBD port and you'll see exactly which sensor is triggering the alarm.
Fifteen years of experience in auto repair tells me that there are roughly five possible reasons why the engine light is on but the car still runs. The most common one is fuel quality issues, where using the wrong octane rating or poor-quality fuel triggers an emissions alarm. Next is severe carbon buildup in the combustion chamber due to long-term short-distance driving, causing excessive exhaust emissions without affecting power. Other minor issues include a dirty throttle body or a leaking fuel vapor recovery hose. The most alarming scenario is a misfire fault, where some car models don’t display a vibration warning even when a cylinder is misfiring. Just the other day, an Audi owner encountered this—inspection revealed aging and leaking insulation on the ignition coil. Remember to pop the hood and check for a burnt smell, as it could indicate an impending electrical short circuit.
