🔍 Why is My Check Engine Light On? 5 Common Culprits
It’s the moment every driver dreads: you’re cruising down the road when a glowing orange engine icon appears on your dash. While your first instinct might be to panic, the Check Engine Light (CEL) is actually a helpful early warning system designed to save you from a major breakdown.
At Priebe’s Auto Clinic, we see this light every day. Here are five of the most common reasons it might be shining in your car: Below is a the code scan for a vehicle with a few different issues.
1. A Loose or Faulty Gas Cap
Believe it or not, your gas cap is part of a sealed evaporation system. If it’s loose, cracked, or simply not clicking into place, sensors will trigger the CEL. Pro-tip: Before calling us, make sure your gas cap is tightened!
2. Emissions Issues
Your car’s computer constantly monitors the efficiency of your exhaust and fuel systems. Emissions issues, such as a faulty sensor or a leak in the evaporative system, are frequent triggers for the light. Ignoring these can drop your fuel economy by as much as 40% and cause your vehicle to fail state inspections.
3. Engine Misfires
If your car feels like it’s “stuttering,” shaking, or idling roughly, you are likely experiencing engine misfires. This means a cylinder isn’t firing correctly, which triggers the light and can quickly lead to overheating or damage to your expensive catalytic converter.
4. Failing Sensor
Modern cars rely on dozens of sensors to manage everything from air intake to timing. When a primary sensor—like those measuring airflow or engine position—begins to fail, your car’s computer can no longer optimize performance. You’ll often notice sluggish acceleration, a drop in power, or poor idling.
5. Catalytic Converter Issues
Usually, this is the “big one.” However, catalytic converters rarely fail on their own—they usually break down because one of the smaller issues above (like a misfire) was ignored for too long.
Don’t Just “Clear” the Code—Fix the Problem
Many people think a “free code scan” is a repair. In reality, a code only tells us the area of the problem, not the cause.
At Priebe’s Auto Clinic, our ASE-certified technicians perform pinpoint diagnostics to verify exactly what is wrong. We fix it right the first time so you don’t have to worry about that light coming back on next week.
📍 4014 N Barnes Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 📞 Call (405) 523-2172 🌐 PACOKC.COM
