You're driving to work one morning, and you notice your vehicle's check engine light (CEL) comes on. Maybe you're on your way to an important meeting. You begin to panic, thinking there's something wrong with your engine that might be dangerous. Should you continue driving or bring your car in for Mt. Laurel check engine light service?
If you don't know what to do, don't worry, you're not alone. Many drivers don't understand the purpose of the check engine light. The good news is that in most cases, you can keep driving until you have a chance to bring your car in for check engine light testing in Mt. Laurel.
Check Engine Light Service Near Mount Laurel
The most important thing to remember is that if your check engine light comes on and it's blinking, it's potentially serious. If the light is blinking, pull over, turn off your car and call for roadside assistance.
The most likely cause of a blinking check engine light is a misfire in the ignition system. When this occurs, unburned fuel is deposited into the exhaust system. This will lead to a damaged catalytic converter, an expensive repair.
If the check engine light is on and not blinking, it means there is a problem that needs attention but it's not urgent. You can continue driving the vehicle, but you should schedule an appointment with the Burns Buick GMC Service Center to fix the problem.
Here are the most common malfunctions that can cause your car's check engine light to come on:
- The oxygen sensor needs to be replaced. Your car's oxygen sensor monitors the unburned oxygen in the exhaust system. When the sensor is faulty, it's not sending the correct information to the computer, resulting in a decrease in fuel economy. Don't ignore this, because a damaged oxygen sensor can lead to a broken catalytic converter.
- The gas cap is loose or faulty. The gas cap might not seem very important, but gasoline fumes can escape if it's cracked or missing. You'll notice lower fuel economy. This problem can be easily remedied by replacing the gas cap.
- The catalytic converter is faulty. The catalytic converter reduces exhaust gases by converting carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide. A bad catalytic converter will reduce your vehicle's performance, cause a decrease in fuel economy, and decrease the fuel economy.
- The mass airflow sensor needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor monitors the amount of air flowing through the engine and tells the car's computer to add the right amount of fuel. If the mass airflow sensor isn't replaced, it can cause the vehicle to stall, increase the emissions, and low the fuel economy.
- The spark plugs need to be replaced. Bad spark plugs will reduce the vehicle's performance or lower the fuel economy. It can also damage the ignition coils, the catalytic converter or the oxygen sensors.
If your check engine light goes on, don't ignore it. Contact the experts at the Burns Buick GMC Service Center. We'll find the source of the problem and fix it quickly.
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