Why does the service engine light come on?

Answer 1

Why my Check Engine light comes on? All modern vehicles have a computer or ECM (Electronic Control Module) that controls the engine operation. The main purpose of this is to keep the engine running at top efficiency with the lowest possible emissions. With today's strictest emission regulations it's not very easy to achieve - the engine needs to be constantly and precisely adjusted according to various conditions such as speed, load, engine temperature, gasoline quality, ambient air temperature, road conditions, etc. How it works: There is number of sensors that provide the ECM with all necessary inputs such as the engine temperature, ambient temperature, vehicle speed, load, etc. According to these inputs, the ECM makes initial adjustments adding or subtracting fuel, advancing or retarding the ignition timing, increasing or decreasing idle speed, etc. There is a primary (upstream) oxygen sensor installed in the exhaust before catalytic converter that monitors the quality of combustion in the cylinders. Based on the feedback from this oxygen sensor the ECM makes fine adjustment to the air-fuel mixture to further reduce emissions. There is another, secondary (downstream) oxygen sensor installed after catalytic converter in the exhaust that monitors catalytic converter's efficiency. Besides, there are few additional emission control related vehicle systems. For example, there is an Evaporative system (EVAP), designed to prevent gasoline vapors from the gas tank from being released into the atmosphere. It also contains number of sensors and actuators controlled by the ECM. The ECM has self-diagnostic capability and constantly tests operation of sensors and other components. When any of the sensor signals is missing or out of normal range, the ECM sets a fault and illuminates the "Check Engine" or "Service Engine Soon" light also called MIL (Malfunction Indication Light) storing the corresponding Diagnos tic Trouble Code (DTC) in the ECM memory. The same will happen if a mechanical component of controlled system fails. For example, if the EGR valve fails, this will also cause the "check engine" light to come on. Even a loose gas cap will cause the "check engine" to come on. The stored trouble code can be retrieved with the special scan tool by the technician. The code itself does not tell exactly what part to replace, it only gives a direction where to look for - the technician has to perform certain tests specific for each code to find the exact cause of the problem. Q: What to do if my "check engine" light is on? A: The simplest way is to visit your local independent garage for proper diagnostic. They have all the equipment and information needed to correct the problem. The problem might be even covered by the manufacturers warranty and they could tell you that. Q: Is it safe to drive if my check engine light is on? A: It really depends what code is stored and what caused it. In worst cases driving with check engine light may cause more damage to the vehicle. A car may even stall while driving. If your check engine light came on, I'd certainly recommend to visit your dealer or a mechanic as soon as possible, just to be on a safe side. Q: Will disconnecting the battery reset check engine light? A: Disconnecting the battery might reset the check engine light on some cars. However, instead of doing so, I recommend to bring your car to a independent garage for a proper diagnostic, and here is why: - not all cars will clear the code after disconnecting the battery - some problems, if not repaired in time may cause a serious damage and more costly repair. - disconnecting the battery will cause many other basic settings of the vehicle's computer to be erased (e.g. idle settings, fuel trim settings, transmission shift points, etc.) - the Readiness code will be erased, which may prevent your car from completing an emissions test. (Readiness code is an indication that certain emission control components have been tested) - the radio, if code-protected, may be locked after disconnecting the battery - the "check engine" light will come back anyway if the problem still exist. Q: can I pull the "check engine" code myself? A: Having an appropriate scan tool or software and some technical knowledge it's not so difficult to pull stored trouble code. OBD II connector located on the driver's side under the dashboard It was quite difficult before, since each car manufacturer had different code assignment and different diagnostic connectors and protocols. Luckily, In 1996 in the United States, a Federal Law came into force requiring all US-sold cars to be OBDII (the On Board Diagnostics system version 2) compliant. This means that all cars from 1996 on must be able to be diagnosed with generic OBDII scanner. The diagnostic connector is identical on all OBD II cars as well as its location - somewhere around the driver's place. Usually, on the left side under the dashboard. There is a number of scan tools and software available (see links below). However, the code itself does not tell exactly what part to replace. For example, the code P0401 reads "insufficient EGR system flow", but it could be a bad EGR valve, clogged EGR passage or, for example, a faulty DPFE sensor (Ford F150 common problem) - there is a specific test procedure to be performed to pinpoint the problem part. Where to find specific test procedure - read below. Q: My car has the code P0133, how can I clear it? A: Code P0133 reads "Bank 1 Sensor 1 circuit slow response"; meaning the front oxygen sensor (located before catalytic converter) has slow response time to the changes in the air-fuel mixture. Unless there is a problem in the wiring or an exhaust leak, replacing the oxygen sensor most likely will fix the problem. Q: What does the code P0102 mean? A: The code P0102 reads "Mass air flow circuit low input". There is a certain procedure to test Mas Air Flow sensor (MAF) for proper operation. When you bring your car to a dealer, they will perform this procedure to check if the sensor is faulty. Mass Air Flow sensor failure is very common. Q: I have Ford F 150 with codes P0171 and P0174, is it the O2 sensor? A: Code P0171 reads "System too lean (Bank 1)" and code P0174 reads "System too lean (Bank 2)" What it means is that the engine is running lean. There are many possible problems that may cause the air-fuel mixture to be lean: Defective or contaminated airflow sensor, intake vacuum leak, dirty fuel filter, etc. There are certain tests to be performed to find the exact cause of the problem. Common problems with Ford engines are defective airflow sensors and vacuum leaks. As of my knowledge, Ford issued Technical Service Bulletin on this problem, you can check it at Alldata DIY. There is a website that for a fairly small fee provides instant access to vehicle-specific repair manual. It's called Alldata DIY - I use it quite often and found it very helpful. Besides "Check engine" trouble codes and corresponding test procedure, it also contains all kinds of diagrams (vacuum diagrams, serpentine belt diagrams, wiring diagrams, etc.), repair instructions, specifications, fluid types, maintenance schedule, component location, and a lot more. You also can find recalls, service bulletins, price for certain parts and labor, and information about how certain vehicle component or system operates. It's very similar to the information system the car dealers use. Whether you have your own small auto repair shop or Do-It-Yourself minded the information they provide would be equally useful. For more details follow this link: Where to get auto repair manual? Where can I buy an OBD II scan tool or software There are many different scan tools and software available on the internet, from simple OBD II code readers to sophisticated scan tools. For example: OBD-2.com - OBD 2 software that turns your PC into scan tool. the service engine light comes on when a sensor is bad or the engine has an internal problem, you can try to disconnect the battery for about ten minutes and then hook it back up, if the light goes out then good and if it comes back then it needs to be decoded by a mechanic to find and fix the problem. they sell decoders at auto parts stores and i think schucks will do it free in the parking lot Pull the codes from the computer, match the code to the troubleshooting procedure, follow the procedure to find the source. Repair the source, light will go out if that was the only problem. There are "monitors" or self tests the computer runs the car through a drive cycle, if a problem occurs, it may not run all of the self tests until that problem is taken care. Therefore, another problem may exist. It is emission related. OR hook up a scanner that is capable of clearing codes, and hope that none are still active. The " check engine light" is by far one of the most misunderstood technological advances It is a warning light that is illuminated when there is a problem affecting the EMISSIONS of the vehicle.. Don't let it bother you as it is a good thing once you understand it. One point that was brought up a recent meeting of technicians was that the amount of hydrocarbons is greater when the gas cap is left off than when the engine is running. Hydrocarbons are part of pollution emitted as gasoline evaporates. Going a step farther, one facet of the emission system is the "Evaporative" portion. This is when the fumes from the gasoline are leaking from the system into the outside air. This is one part of the emission system that can trigger a check engine light. I would say a small percentage of the vehicles that have a check engine light are the result of a loose or inadequate gas cap. But understand that many scenarios are possible with the "check engine light" The vehicle's powertrain computer (note that some vehicles have multiple computers aside from the powertain computer) will run a series of self-tests. They will only run under certain criteria. And they are different from manufacturer to manufacturer. Some self-tests or