You have a busy day ahead of you -- you get in your vehicle, ready to run to the grocery store for some supplies and then make it back in time for your morning meeting when you notice your check engine light flashing incessantly on your dashboard. You decide you will get it checked tomorrow; you are just too busy today. But a few days go by, the light stays on, and you finally remember that your check engine light needs to be looked at.
When you see that check engine light illuminated on your dashboard, we recommend reacting right away and scheduling an appointment with the technicians at A+ Japanese Auto Repair for an appointment. When the light appears on your dash, you might only have a short period to bring your vehicle to qualified technicians to prevent more extensive problems. Here are five reasons why you shouldn't ignore your check engine light because it may mean any of these easily preventable problems:
- Loose Gas Cap: The air-tight seal for your fuel system is unsealed. At this point, fuel will evaporate into the atmosphere, and your fuel line pressure will not be adequately maintained. Both of these issues can lead to reduced gas consumption, which can easily be prevented by a gas cap replacement as soon as the check engine light turns on.
- Oxygen Sensors: Your vehicle's oxygen sensors measure oxygen coming from your combustion chamber into the exhaust. Unburned oxygen means unburned fuel, which, if left unchecked, can severely damage your catalytic converter. On top of that, your gas mileage will be negatively affected.
- Mass Air Flow Sensor: This sensor measures air coming through your car's intake system to help manage the right mix of fuel and air in your engine. If your mass airflow sensor breaks, it won't be able to monitor the fuel-air mix in your engine, and your vehicle's performance will suffer.
- Wiring Harness and Spark Plugs: If you want your vehicle to burn fuel efficiently inside the engine, these components must work properly. Misfires can also lead to problems with your catalytic converter, oxygen sensors, and ignition coils.
- Catalytic Converter: Your catalytic converter is one of your car's most expensive parts to replace and should not be ignored, since it could damage other parts of your engine.
To add, what if the battery is dead and the Check Engine light isn’t coming on at all? What would you do then? Having a dead battery is never fun. We don't want anyone to feel stranded, so we created this video showing how to jump-start your car. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe1ijrlIAKQ
We recognize that when the check engine light turns on, you can't help but worry about your vehicle's condition, and your instant reaction is to avoid the problem. At A+ Japanese Auto Repair, we will ensure your experience with us is as seamless as possible. We will go over your options with you, making sure you precisely understand the underlying cause. Schedule an appointment today at A+ Japanese Auto Repair today, and our team will thoroughly examine your vehicle. We are conveniently located at 780 Industrial Road, San Carlos, CA 94070.