Don’t ignore your ‘Check Engine’ light, it’s not just a decoration…

We’ve all had our ‘Check Engine’ light flash in front of our faces, but not everyone takes evasive action, and ignores the warning in front of them.

check engine

More than often when the light flashes you don’t notice any immediate difference with your driving experience and therefore tend to ignore it and later forget about it. A lot of drivers can’t figure out what the problem is and therefore don’t take it seriously, in the hopes that it will go away, but it’s really important that you take action and try and diagnose the problem.

diagnose-the-problem

Unfortunately, when the ‘Check Engine’ light flashes it doesn’t point out the problem, which means it could range from any number of different things, from small to large. A good idea is to firstly listen for any abnormal noises or clunks that don’t sound right, for example squeaks from the fan belt, after years of driving your car you should be familiar with the noises that it makes and whether its normal or not.

check engine light

A common problem which could cause your engine light to appear is the likes of a wet engine. Most cars are designed in such a way that water doesn’t seep into the important bits, but unfortunately this can be the result of a heavy period of rainfall or washing your car. Sometimes the wires can get wet and this can cause problems for your starter system.

wet-car-engine

After a while your engine’s spark plugs can lose their functionality as they erode and therefore might need replacing. Replacing your spark plugs is not expensive and it’s not a difficult task either.

Old and new spark plugs

Sometimes the problem is a simple and easy fix, by only adjusting your fuel cap. More than often the ‘Check Engine’ light appears due to the fact that the cap is not properly screwed on, so before you go on a wild goose chase, check your fuel cap to see if it is screwed on properly.

fuel cap check

Don’t be a fool and ignore your ‘Check Engine’ light…it’s there for a reason and can help you prolong the life of your vehicle.

If you’re looking for a vehicle that is easy to maintain, then visit www.AutoMart.co.za for good deals on cars in your area.

Struan Langlands

Digital Marketing Channel Co-ordinator @ Junk Mail Publishing. My family, work, cars and sport are the 4 things that I am most passionate about and motivate me. I am a full blooded Petrol Head and always ready for a sport debate. "The day you think there is no improvements to be made is a sad one for any player." ~Lionel Messi

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