In the age of modern technology, the technical characteristics of a car provide for the presence of a large number of electronics. Cars are literally crammed with it. Some motorists do not even understand why it is needed or why this or that light is on. In our article, we will talk about a small red bulb with the name Check Engine. What is it and why the "Check" lights up, we will consider in more detail. Drivers begin to deal with this issue when a problem arises. After they understand the purpose of the light bulb, the head begins to hurt even more, because there are many reasons for the glow of the Check Engine light bulb. Many immediately resort to the help of car services, because they believe that without a diagnosis it is almost impossible to find the cause.
What kind of bulb is this and how does it threaten a motorist?
Check Engine, or "Check Engine", in literal translation means that you should check the motor. It is located on the main panel, and the slightest glow of the light bulb signals the driver about problems with the power unit. The main function of modern "Checks" is to control engine speed. They are related to fuel supply, fuel consumption, ignition, etc. If you do not have certain knowledge in the field of car making, it will be very difficult to find out why the “Check” lights up.
Your actions if the “Check” of the engine lights up
Firstly, it should be remembered that this bulb does not always signal a malfunction in the engine.
- If the “Check” lights up when the power unit starts up and goes out right away, it means that the engine is in good working order, and this is not a cause for concern.
- If the indicator does not go out, start to worry, because the engine has detected breakdowns. But you should not be very upset, since there is a possibility that they are insignificant, although critical ones are not excluded.
Is further driving possible if the “Check Angie” light comes on?
The first thing to do when the indicated indicator lights up is to stop and listen to the car. There are times that the malfunction itself disappears. Still, we do not have the most unique electronics. If the problem remains, you need to find the nearest service station and try to solve it.
Going to a service station, certain rules must be observed:
- the mode of movement of the vehicle must be gentle;
- try not to maximize the speed level;
- turn off all electronic excesses in the form of an air conditioner, radio, DVR and any equipment that is in the car at this time (multimedia systems also apply to them);
- minimize the amount of sharp braking, extreme riding in this case is not welcome;
- the movement of vehicles at night with this drawback is not recommended;
- if you find trouble in the evening on the road, the best way out of the situation is to follow certain precautions.
Remember that ignoring these rules can lead to disruption of the engine, which can result in jamming or fire.
The main reasons for the glow of the Check Engine indicator
- “Check” lights up on the go. The reason may be insufficient oil in the engine. In order to verify this, you should stop the machine, open the hood and carefully listen to the motor. If the power unit works smoothly, without extraneous noise, does not knock, there are no smudges of any kind, all parts of the body are hermetically sealed - this is not the reason. When checking the oil level with a dipstick, remember that the machine must be on the most level surface. Otherwise, the error may be plus or minus several liters. If at least one of these shortcomings is identified, it is urgent to seek the help of highly qualified specialists.
- The “Check” lights up when the engine is running smoothly. If the “Check” lights up at idle, the work of the ignition cross-section is most likely faulty. It is possible that some of them have failed. Also, one of the reasons is low-quality fuel. Typically, this breakdown is detected immediately after leaving the gas station. In this case, this is not so rare for our region. If the “Check” is lit up, the reasons for which are related to the quality of the fuel, refuel with a higher octane rating or change the fueling.
Check Engine flickers due to malfunctioning candles
Such a problem may occur if the candles have not changed for too long. Saving on them is by no means recommended. Their cost is not so expensive. Engine repair will cost more.
If you are a big economist, replace the part yourself. To do this, you only need a candle key.
Unscrew the candles for them, check their operability. If the problem is not in them at all - clean them from soot and only then install them in place. If candles are out of order - get new ones. When carrying out work, pay attention to the gap between the electrodes. It should be no more than 1.3 mm. In case of discrepancies, correct.
Ignition Coil Problem
May cause the Check Engine lamp to light up and the ignition coil to malfunction . Use a multimeter to test the coil. Make sure there is a spark at the outlet.
The problem with the oxygen sensor
Signs: troit engine, “Check” caught fire. The cause of this malfunction is the exhaust system. The readings of the lambda probe are regularly checked by the on-board computer. The probe controls the amount of oxygen in the exhaust gases, which allows you to determine how efficient the power unit is and how well the fuel burns.
If there is more than enough oxygen in the exhaust, perhaps the reason is a violation of the fuel-air mixture preparation system. Or the fuel does not burn completely. Whatever the reason, the “Check” will signal a malfunction in the engine.
Some modern cars have 2 lambda probes. The first - before the catalyst, the second - after. If the catalyst works properly, then the oxygen supply will be appropriate. It follows that the operation of the oxygen sensor largely depends on the performance of the catalyst, because it is he who controls the reduction of toxicity of the exhaust.
Mass air flow sensor out of order
The element may have failed due to dusting it. But this is not the main reason for their loss of performance. There may simply be deviations in the readings. To eliminate this reason, it is necessary to clean the sensor with a special liquid.
It should be remembered that if you use a carburetor cleaner as this tool, you can cause irreparable harm to the sensor. In the event of a complete failure of the oxygen sensor, it is necessary to replace it.
Catalyst failure
In the event of a catalyst failure, you will not be able to drive a car fully, since the engine will be unstable, as evidenced by the “Check” button. In this case, your car will have a significant fuel consumption and there will be no traction. In this case, preventive and repair measures will not help. Equipment needs to be replaced. Yes, the catalyst is a rather expensive thing, but if the problem is in it, the disadvantage will be completely eliminated.
Failure of nozzles, fuel pump
If the nozzles are confirmed, clean them. If the pump and the fuel filter are unstable, you will first have to check the pressure in the ramp. If it is at least three atmospheres and the flaws are clearly visible - replace the gasoline pump and clean the injectors.
High Voltage Test Guidelines
High-voltage wires are another reason when the “Check” lights up. To verify it, you must follow the recommendations below. To independently check the high-voltage wires, you must follow these steps:
- Fill a stainless container with water and pour a tablespoon of soda.
- Dip the wires into the solution, leaving the ends on the surface. Next, start checking the wires using a megger. Connect the device itself to the first tip, and the other wire must be connected to a container with wires. If an insulation fault is detected, the resistance will be less than 500 kOhm. In this case, the wires require replacement.
Say no to the panic
If the glow of the "Check" button is detected, do not panic. This does not help to eliminate the flaws. Get together and try to fix the flaws yourself according to the recommendations indicated in our article, and only then look for the reasons more deeply.
If the above tips did not help you, and you still can’t decide what the “Check” lights up for, you should seek help from professionals. No need to invent anything yourself. Today's service stations are equipped with the most high-tech and modern equipment that will help find a solution to this issue. Of course, you may have to spend a certain amount of money. But this is not the end of the world. The main thing is to find the reason, since it is your safety on the road that depends on it.