When you hop in your vehicle to go to work, school or grocery shopping, you don't expect to see a bunch of lights on the dashboard. You expect your vehicle to get you where you need to be without any problems. However, there is always the chance that something could go wrong and you could wind up having to spend money on repairs. In the event you find yourself dealing with a check engine light on your dashboard, there are a few things that could be to blame.
Oxygen Sensor
Oxygen sensors are responsible for monitoring the amount of oxygen that hasn't been burned from your exhaust system. It determines the amount of fuel that your vehicle has burned. When the sensor is bad, that means it isn't sending the right information to your vehicle's computer, thus causing your gas mileage to suffer. Cars can have anywhere from 2-4 sensors on them. Auto repair technicians will be able to use their scanner to determine which one is bad and in need of repair. When the sensor is covered in dirt and oil, it causes it to struggle to function properly. Beyond making your gas mileage suffer, your emissions will also increase.
Loose Gas Cap
Many people don't realize just how important their gas cap is. If the cap is cracked or loose, the fuel vapors will end up leaking out and throwing your system off. Again, emissions go up and gas mileage goes down. When the error code says your gas cap is to blame, it often means that you have a cracked or loose cap that needs to be taken care of.
Mass Airflow Sensor
Your mass airflow sensor is responsible for telling your computer how much fuel it needs based on the amount of air that is coming into the engine. Faulty sensors cause your emissions to increase, poor gas mileage and engine stalling. Most of the time, these sensors go bad because the air filter wasn't properly installed or hasn't been replaced. You need to change this filter annually to prevent any issues with your airflow sensor.
The best way to get to the bottom of what you have going on with your vehicle is to take it into a licensed repair facility like ABS Unlimited Auto Repair and let them evaluate it for you. This will give you an accurate answer as to what needs to be fixed and what it is going to cost you.
Share26 October 2015
