Modern cars are fitted with detection systems that monitor the health of the various parts on which the vehicle relies to function properly.
These include sensors that detect when there is a problem with your engine. Occasionally these sensors trigger the illumination of the so-called check engine light, a distinctive engine-shaped symbol on your dashboard that glows orange when something is wrong with the engine.
If your check engine light begins to glow orange there are a number of brief checks you can make to your vehicle before seeking professional help. Read on to find out more.
Firstly, you need to determine exactly what the check engine light is doing. If it is simply glowing orange, it should not be ignored, but there is no immediate cause for alarm.
However, if the check engine light is either flashing or solid red in colour, you should pull over straight away (as soon as it is safe to do so) and call roadside assistance. This indicates a serious fault in your vehicle that must be seen to immediately.
If your check engine light is glowing orange, there is no reason to panic. Sometimes the problems that trigger the illumination of a car’s check engine light are basic and can be easily fixed.
One very straightforward reason why your check engine light may be on is if the car’s fuel cap is loose. If you’ve just filled up when the light comes on, pull over and check the cap is on tightly, or maybe even still on your car’s roof! If you notice that the cap is loose and won’t tighten or is broken and needs to be replaced, this can be done quickly and cheaply.
Another issue that can cause a check engine light to come on is if there is a problem with the vehicle’s catalytic converter. If the light is accompanied by unusual sounds or discoloured smoke from the car’s exhaust, odds are it’s the catalytic converter.
Other issues that can cause check engine light problems include problems with the spark plugs or ignition (not relevant to diesel cars), an oxygen sensor failure or a leak in the car’s vacuum system that could be caused by intense heat or extreme cold.
The good news is that many of these issues can be fixed relatively cheaply and easily by a mechanic. The important thing is not to ignore them until a more serious problem occurs.
As mentioned above, a loose fuel cap is undoubtedly the most fixable problem and should be your first port of call.
Otherwise, have you noticed anything odd about your vehicle’s performance recently? If you’ve been getting fewer miles to the gallon lately and your car has been stalling more often than usual, you might have a mass airflow failure (MAF). If you have noticed these changes, tell the mechanic about them when you take your vehicle in to be checked.
As mentioned above, the check engine warning light could be triggered by a catalytic converter issue. Performing regular oil changes helps keep your vehicle’s catalytic converter working properly. In this case, prevention in the form of regular maintenance of your the car is the key to keeping that pesky check engine light at bay.
Inevitably, things like check engine warning lights always cause problems at difficult times, when getting to a garage is the last thing you want to do. One way to avoid this irritation is to get your car maintained regularly by a professional to make sure that any potential engine issues are detected before they develop.
All cars leased through Leasys come with a number of services as standard, including roadside assistance, a dedicated driver helpline and payment of the road fund licence or road tax.
For a small, fixed, inflation-proof fee, you can also add on an optional maintenance package that will keep your car or fleet of business vehicles on the road by including regular servicing, maintenance, repairs and tyre replacements. With this cost added directly into your monthly rental charge, can you really afford not to?
