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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We’re still more than a month away from Memorial Day, but did you know that the 100 days between Memorial Day (Monday, May 25, 2026) and Labor Day (Monday, September 7, 2026) are known as the “100 deadliest days” when it comes to traffic fatalities? In particular, this is a time that sees VERY high rates of traffic fatalities involving teen drivers, many of whom are fairly new to driving and may not exercise the caution that older, more seasoned driver have. In fact, last year it was reported that, between 2019 and 2023, 13,135 people nationwide were killed in car crashes involving teen drivers, with 30% occurring during the 100 deadliest days. Jake Nelson, Director of Traffic Safety advocacy and Research at Triple-A, believes that the greater unsupervised time teens spend during the Summer Vacation is a major contributing factor in this trend, and he encourages families to strongly consider additional driver education classes offered through Triple-A as well as parent-teen safe driving agreements to set clearly-defines expectations for new drivers1. As car crashes are the leading cause of death for American teenagers, this is great, sound advice! It is speculated that the underlying causes of these statistics involve a combination of factors: • School is out, and teens are eager to explore their young adulthood. Who can remember the excitement of having “new wheels” and the freedom to expand their social lives2? • Inexperience is clearly a factor. How skilled can you really be at something you’ve only been doing a short while2? • Speeding is exhilarating when you’re a new driver….I know. It’s also dangerous as things happen faster when you’re moving faster. I did my share of racing when I was a kid, and, luckily, I never got into an accident….but I DID get a lot of speeding tickets which eventually taught me to be more responsible2. • Distracted driving is deadly for all age groups, but is particularly dangerous for teens, where it accounts for around 60% of all accidents involving teens. Teach your kids to PUT THE CELL PHONE DOWN, not to eat or drink while driving, and to focus on the road2. • Drunk driving is also a major problem that spans age groups….but, with regards to teen drivers, inexperience plus impairment of reflexes and thinking can be particularly deadly. In 2022, 30% of young drivers between 15 and 20 who were killed in car accidents had BACs of 0.01g/dl2. PARENTS, BE PREPARED! Talk to YOUR young drivers and make them aware that driving is inherently dangerous: there are always risks. But, during the 100 deadliest days, being safe may not only save them from being sorry….it may save their lives! 1. https://newsroom.aaa.com/2025/05/the-100-deadliest-days-teen-driver-deaths-jump-in-summer-months/ 2. https://nrsf.org/100-safest-days-summer#:~:text=Some%20factors%20that%20contribute%20to%20the%20increased,behavior%20*%20Consider%20a%20defensive%20driving%20course
European import cars and trucks and their domestic counterparts have some pretty significant differences that manifest from fundamentally different priorities in their design and engineering. For example, European vehicles are typically designed to be smaller to better navigate the narrow, often winding streets of the older European towns. The larger frame sizes of “American Muscle Cars”, by contrast, were based around the concepts of POWER and spaciousness. And while European car designs tend to be more elegant and sophisticated in their aesthetics, American cars tend to prioritize more functional aesthetics, with size and practicality being placed above elegance. This dichotomy very concisely reflects the different cultural values of Europe versus the USA. In addition to being smaller, European auto design teams tend to value precision maneuverability and agility to a greater degree than American design teams. Being agile means better precision moves on narrow, winding streets, so, again, being small, fast, precise, and agile become functional outcomes of European architecture. The USA, with its “wide open spaces” doesn’t value those features to the same degree, where raw power on straight-aways and being built for long-hauls cross-country are more desirable. HOWEVER, speed limits are typically more tightly controlled in the USA than in Europe (think Autobahn), so top end speeds tend to be higher for European cars. European autos also have to conform to tighter environmental standard for emissions with their greater emphasis on environmentally friendly features. Hence, the emissions systems are more sophisticated and precisely monitored in Euro imports than in their domestic counterparts. If you’ve driven a Euro import and gotten a “check engine light” it’s usually due to malfunctions somewhere in the emissions system. Domestic brands also often lag behind their Euro counterparts in fuel economy as a result of the goal of minimal environmental impact. Lastly, transmission preferences are a major difference between Euro imports and their domestic counterparts. In Europe, manual transmissions are often preferred, but automatic transmissions are more popular in the USA, so a lot of Euro imports ARE equipped with them here. Regardless of YOUR preference, we’re here to serve YOU! With going on 43 years of continuous operation, and a crew of experienced, ASE-certified technicians, we’re known as specialists in European imports….but we also see a lot of domestic makes and models, too! Contract us if you need our “A-Team” to work their magic for you!
At Ditmire Motorworks, we get to meet a lot of different people, ranging from people who have been driving Euro imports for decades to people who are new to them. And some of the "newbies" can be a little nervous about how best to take care of their new rides. I can sympathize: I got my first Mercedes when I was in my 50's, and, like many, had heard that the maintenance was a bit of an ordeal. Well, it turns out it really isn't....it's just sticking to schedules. Hello, I'm Michael, and I'm the VP of Ditmire's (and Beth Harvie's Husband), and I thought I'd pass along some tips for new owners. An overarching thing I'd suggest: look at your car as an INVESTMENT....not just basic transportation. Doing the "right things" will fall out of that mindset: 1. First off, follow the recommended service and maintenance schedules that are prescribed for your car. This was always a little more loose when I drove domestic. I'm now sticking closer to the schedules and not putting stuff off. 2. Secondly, only use high-quality synthetic motor oils. When I began to look into this, it was easy and quick to see that this alone is a HUGE part of maintainenance. I also became mindful of my fluid levels: oil, coolant, brake fluids, transmission fluid, and power steering fluid. Just a little bit of attention to these can keep you problem-free! 3. Thirdly, be mindful of tire pressures and any driving issues which might be related to the tires/wheels. 4. Fourth, check belts, hoses, and batteries periodically, particularly in Winter. 5. Don't be afraid to ask for help. I was new to the Euro scene, and these cars are "computers with wheels", a long way from the '78 Buick Regal I started with back in the day! I was a customer of Ditmire's before I came to work here, and it didn't take me long to recognize the expertise that our technicians had. I felt like these guys were "partners" in taking care of Bruno, my Mercedes E350. I believed enough in them, I came here to help THEM!
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