The Check Engine Light: A Misunderstood "Good Guy"
June 18, 2025
Check engine lights….we’ve all had them....we’ve all had anxieties because of them. But “check engine” is vague….what could be wrong? Should I be worried? Do I need to do this NOW, or can it wait until I can get it looked at?
The check engine light is also called the “Malfunction Indicator Lamp” (MIL)….which, again, sounds serious but is also pretty vague. WHAT is malfunctioning? Is my trusted vehicle breaking down? It’s important to remain calm and look for anything else which might be noticeable concurrent with the warning light. Ask yourself the following:
Are there other issues which became immediately apparent when the check engine light came on? Any change in performance or handling? What was going on when the light came on: Was I starting up? Did I just get fuel? Was I just rolling along normally when it came on? TAKE NOTE OF ALL THE DETAILS! Are any other lights coming on? Do I notice ANYTHING out of the ordinary after it came on?
We advise you to think about these things and make a mental or written list as you head in to have the problem diagnosed by a professional. The more you can tell your service advisor, the more data they can pass along to the technician, and that can assist with proper diagnosis. If you’re close, we recommend you stop by to see us, but, if you’re not close, find someone else close by. WE CARE ABOUT YOUR SAFETY!
So, how long can I (or YOU) drive without getting the car checked? If the check engine light is blinking, the answer is: get into a shop ASAP! But, even if the check engine light isn’t blinking or goes off again, we still recommend putting safety first and getting a qualified technician to have a look at it. If the check engine light is on, it’s likely that you’re releasing excess pollutants, which, at the very least, can impact gas mileage.
So, let’s look into some common causes and look at how serious they might be! First of all, it’s important to realize that check engine lights can indicate a wide range of potential problems, going from fairly minor, easy fixes to more serious issues that could necessitate repairs. It’s important not to simply ignore them, even if the causes ARE minor issues. Minor issues, depending on the specifics, can become major ones if left unattended.
- Loose or missing gas cap: you might not have thought about it, but your gas cap prevents excess fuel vapors from being released into the air. This also maintains a pressurization of your engine, and the check engine light will let you know if this pressure is compromised. Before taking your car into the shop, you may want to first try removing the gas cap and then re-tightening it to see if that solves the problem.
- Issues with the oxygen sensor: your engine works around the principles of internal combustion, the ignition of a fuel/air mixture to create controlled bursts which move your pistons. The oxygen sensor monitors how much unburned oxygen is being put out in your exhaust. If the oxygen in the exhaust drops below normal levels, the check engine light will let you know.
- Issues with the mass airflow sensor: To function normally, air needs to be taken in, combined with fuel, and ignited by the electrical sparks of the spark plugs. The mass airflow sensor determines how much fuel is needed for the amount of air entering the engine. Malfunctioning of this sensor will trigger the check engine light.
- Issues with the spark plugs or plug wires: If a spark plug or multiple plugs or their plug wires become defective, the check engine light will let you know.
- Issues with the catalytic converter: the catalytic converter is responsible for converting toxic carbon monoxide, various nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons into less harmful gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and water vapor. This ensures that the exhaust is “cleaner” and less environmentally harmful. A failing catalytic converter will not only trigger your check engine light, but also lead to reduced engine performance. A rotten egg smell combined with the check engine light can also point directly to a failing catalytic converter.
- Issues with the vacuum system: a car’s vacuum system uses suction generated by the engine to power various systems. Basically, the pistons pull air into the cylinders during the intake stroke, creating engine vacuum, and, in combination with vacuum pumps and hoses, that vacuum pressure is distributed to power things ranging from power brake boosters and turbocharge wastegate actuators to emissions controls. As this represents a critical engine system, a leak or loss of pressure will trigger a check engine light.
- Issues with the exhaust gas (ERG) recirculation valve: this system works with the catalytic converter to reduce the amount of nitrogen oxides released in your car’s exhaust. Malfunction of the ERG valve will trigger a check engine light.
- Issues with the car’s battery: if a battery has gone bad and needs to be replaced, it will trigger a check engine light that is generally accompanied by difficulty in cranking the engine on startup.
So, a check engine light can mean many things ranging from gas caps being too loose or cracked to problems with vacuum pressure which can impact multiple downstream systems to emissions problems which can make our engines function less optimally while contributing to pollution. It’s truly a “misunderstood good guy” that can let us know there are issues with multiple systems that keep us and those around us safe.
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BE SAFE OUT THERE 2026!!! This year, as with preceding years, the days between Memorial Day (Monday, May 25) and Labor Day (Monday, September 7) are expected to be the most dangerous and deadliest days for driving. With people taking vacations or engaging in Summertime activities, more people are on the roads, including young drivers who may lack experience. The CDC warns us that drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 are 3x more likely to be involved in fatal car crashes during this time 1 , and the NFRS concurs 2 , revealing that these young drivers are 20% more likely to be involved in fatal car accidents during this time. This is speculated to be due to a number of risk factors including general inexperience driving, underage drinking, not taking proper safety precautions such as wearing seatbelts, speeding or driving unsafely, and distracted driving. This last behavior, of course, is not just a “teen thing”: with the advent of handheld cellular devices, we’ve all experienced those “pings” when we receive phone calls, texts, or messages….and we’re often guilty of looking to see who’s contacting us. If we receive a text, we may even take a few moments, brief as they seem, to see who’s contacting us or to respond. Distraction coupled with inexperience can be fatal….but overconfidence in one’s ability to multi-task can be equally dangerous for experienced drivers. Experienced drivers may over-estimate their abilities to perform other tasks while driving, and this can lead to avoidable accidents. “Multi-tasking” shouldn’t be applicable to driving. Even a few seconds of distraction can be deadly. The FCC warns us that 8% of fatal crashes, 12% of injury crashes, and 11% of all police-reported motor vehicle crashes resulted from distracted driving. And, while hands-free devices are safer options, distractions of any kind can be detrimental. With more than 3,300 people being killed and nearly 290,000 people being injured in these situations, this is definitely not something to be taken lightly 3 . Obviously, adding drinking or “being high” to distracted driving is a clear recipe for disaster, so exercise good judgement. And maybe you weren’t intoxicated driving to the shore, but if you ARE driving home, you’re still putting yourself in danger. Behaviors such as eating or attempting to perform other tasks while driving can also end up in disaster. If you’re travelling with passengers, make sure they know the importance of not distracting you as you drive. With more people on the roads over the Summer, the odds are higher that you could end up being involved in an accident, so, please, if you’re planning to be on the road this Summer, please be mindful of not only your own responsible behaviors, but also be on the lookout for any other drivers who might be engaging in unsafe behaviors. And if you’re unsure of the condition or “roadworthiness” of your vehicle, please stop by, and we’re happy to check it over and contribute to your safety! 1. https://www.cdc.gov/teen-drivers/risk-factors/index.html 2.https://nrsf.org/100-safest-days-summer#:~:text=Distraction%20includes%20but%20is%20not,before%20getting%20behind%20the%20wheel. 3. https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/dangers-texting-while-driving .
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1. Oil: Proper lubrication is necessary for preventing premature wearing down of critical engine parts. It must be stated that, without proper lubrication, engine parts will experience much more friction and heat than they were designed to tolerate. Parts melt, warp, and break under those stresses, and those repairs, alone, will add up. Degraded oil also creates sludge, which can clog your engine and prevent proper oil flow through it. Thus, sticking to a rigid schedule of oil changes every 3,000-5,000 miles is a front-line priority in keeping your engine healthy and in maintaining reasonable fuel efficiency. If your car is having to work harder, it burns more fuel. However, it’s not just the oil changes. The quality of the oil used is a critical part of proper maintenance. Fully synthetic motor oils are a go-to for European import autos for several reasons: the oil molecules are fairly homogeneous in size and shape, reducing the viscosity that you will see with natural, unrefined motor oils. Fully synthetic motor oils also resist the sludge-producing thermal breakdown you see with natural oils. 2. Transmission: Most people don’t think much about transmission services until something starts to go wrong, but, by then, damage is done. Getting fluid services every 40,000 miles and using the appropriate high-performance transmission fluid for your car ensures that proper lubrication, cooling, cleaning, and hydraulic pressure are maintained and save on having to get transmission repairs later. A little attention to regular service, which isn’t expensive, can prevent a transmission replacement, which gets expensive. 3. Brakes: Obviously, being able to STOP is vitally important. Brake wear is a very progressive problem that you may not notice until the later stages, but, once you do, understand that it’s only going to get worse from there. Car parts don’t magically fix themselves, and no one wants to risk brake failure. Brake pads typically last 25,000-70,000 miles, and rotors 30,000-70,000 miles, but any grinding, screeching, or difficulty in stopping should trigger a trip to the shop. 4. Tires and Wheels: If you’ve ever experienced a blowout at speed, you’ll realize the importance of making sure your tires are roadworthy. Checking tire pressures routinely can ensure that you’re doing the first thing in maintaining them, but WHEEL ALIGNMENT is another aspect you need to consider. Your tires will last longer and be in better shape if you make sure your wheel alignment is maintained. Misaligned wheels put uneven stresses on tires that can compromise them and shorten their lifespans. Misaligned wheels can also contribute to expensive issues with your suspension system that you’d do better to avoid. Remember that Euro imports need 4-WHEEL ALIGNMENTS. 5. Check Engine Lights: Don’t be guilty of not getting these investigated in a timely fashion! The causes can be simple malfunctions that compromise your emissions, but they can also be the warning sign that something’s about to go bad. Especially, if the check engine light is flashing, you need to pull over and get a tow. Catastrophic engine failure will likely “total” your car, so don’t risk it. They’re called “warning lights” for a reason, and, no, it can’t wait until next week.
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As we move forward toward the longer days and warmer, sunny weather of late Spring and Summer, many of us look forward to outdoor celebrations, barbecues, and beach time. However, we need to caution that this time of year sees increases in drunk driving, so always be mindful. Year round, around 30% of all traffic fatalities involve drunk driving. In fact, between 2015 and 2024, an average of 11,500 people died each year as a result of driving while intoxicated (DWI)….but that percentage tends to rise during Summer and peak on the 4th of July1. It’s an old story: people partying and having fun, a few drinks are consumed, and someone will invariably think they’re OK to drive. But how much is too much? Blood Alcohol Concentrations need to meet or exceed 0.08g/dl in 49 of the 50 states except Utah, where a BAC of 0.05 is the limit. To give you a rough idea of how much that is, it works out to about 4 drinks within 2 hours for men and 3 for women to achieve 0.082. To give you an idea of how these levels correspond to feelings you may experience, consider this: A. At a BAC of 0.02g/dl, you feel relaxed, your mood changes, and you may feel a little warm. You’ll also find it more difficult to perform two tasks at once, and your eyesight may be a bit impaired1. B. At a BAC of 0.05g/ml, you begin to experience “relaxed judgement”, “released inhibitions”, loss of fine motor control, and reduced reflexes and response times. You probably feel good and maybe even a bit silly….but you’re drunk1. C. At a BAC of 0.08g/dl, your balance and coordination are functionally impaired. Judgement, reflexes, self-control, and reasoning are also impaired. Your speech may also begin to slur1. D. At a BAC of 0.10g/dl, your speech is badly slurred, your coordination is badly reduced, and your thinking is slowed1. We won’t go on with the higher BAC symptoms, but suffice it to say that many of don’t begin vomiting until around 0.15g/dl1….so if you’re at that point, you’re way over the limit and a danger to yourself or others if you’re behind the wheel of a car. So, as the weather warms up and the urge to “get festive” takes hold, BE AWARE, BE RESPONSIBLE, AND BE SAFE!!! 1. https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving 2. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/health-professionals-communities/core-resource-on-alcohol/basics-defining-how-much-alcohol-too-much#:~:text=Blood%20alcohol%20concentration%20(BAC).%20Binge%20drinking%20is,more%20drinks%20(men)%2C%20in%20about%202%20hours.
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