If your vehicle’s check engine light comes on, it means that your vehicle’s internal diagnostics system has encountered a problem.

When the check engine light comes on it can mean many different things depending on the make and model of your vehicle. Only a qualified repair facility like Brake Masters can determine the reason for the light coming on. It requires specialized equipment to connect to your vehicle’s computer to determine why the engine light is on. Although sometimes an illuminated check engine light can be something very minor, it should never be ignored.

The problem, however, could be-be quite serious and lead to extensive costly repairs if not addressed timely. Today’s automotive computers attempt to compensate when a problem arises so you might not notice any change in your car’s performance, even though your fuel mileage is suffering and your vehicle is emitting unacceptable levels of pollutants and hydrocarbons. The check engine light coming on is telling you something is wrong so you should not delay in getting it checked.

When your check engine light comes on, these are some of the common issues which could be the cause:

• Your car’s oxygen sensor may need replacing; it could potentially lead to you losing up to 40% of fuel over time.
• Something can be wrong with the gas cap: If you let a faulty gas cap go unnoticed, you might well be having to make extra trips to the gas station.
• The catalytic converter may need replacing: This if damaged or broken will cause your car to run at a higher, possibly dangerous temperature.
• Your Mass air flow sensor needs replacing: Again this will lead to making extra, unnecessary trips to the gas station.
• Spark plugs that need replacing: If not addressed your vehicle will begin to run poorly.
• Dirty or clogged fuel injectors that need to be serviced or replaced.

So to summarize, as soon as your car’s check engine light starts to flash, don’t simply ignore it. Your car is trying to tell you something! Call Brake Masters Auto Repair to schedule an appointment and keep your vehicle running properly and efficiently.