You are driving along and Bing! Your heart rate probably went up by thirty-five percent. That’s because that tell-tale chime is immediately accompanied by a warning message – and if you’re especially unlucky, the dreaded yellow Check Engine Light.(why is my check engine light on, check engine light on).
If you have a luxury car & it suddenly needs repairs this can be even more daunting, by regularly servicing your car this is less likely to happen as skilled mechanics can spot & diagnose problems before they develop into costly.
How UAE Drivers React to the Check Engine Light
At this point, most car owners in the UAE fall neatly into one of two groups:
- Complete and utter panic: “I need to get to a garage as soon as humanly possible!”
- “This doesn’t seem really important, there are plenty of other warning lights on already!”
Let’s look at these two responses more carefully.
Group 1: The Panickers – Driven by Uncertainty
Panic is typically caused by a lack of information. Messages on your car dashboard can be quite scary – but essentially, your car is telling you there is a problem with your engine or its associated systems that requires immediate attention. The wisest course of action is to take it to Alex Renner Motors to get a complete diagnostic report so Alex Renner Motors® expert mechanics can resolve the issue immediately. (what does check engine light mean)
Group 2: The Ignorers – Risking Long-Term Damage
Drivers who ignore Check Engine Lights – are the ones that are really at risk. These owners gamble with the health of their expensive luxury vehicle, only going to a workshop when the car is about to wheeze its last breath. A smart owner will always address faults as and when they occur – others will write off car after car because they believe they know better than their vehicle manufacturer – and a competent workshop like ARM with highly trained mechanics will highlight these issues to a customer well before they reach a critical.
Having said that – not all Check Engine lights are created equal. It’s worth understanding the nuances of what that annoying yellow light is trying to tell you. (what to do when check engine light comes on)
Not All Check Engine Lights Are Equal: Solid vs. Blinking
As I said above, a Check Engine light (CEL) is a sign there is something wrong with your engine or its attached emission systems. It can come in two flavours – solid or blinking.
A solid CEL means that the car’s onboard diagnostics has detected a persistent fault that needs further diagnosis. Depending on the age of the car, it may show further messages on the dashboard that explain what the issue is. When the light is solid, you may continue with your current journey, but it is very important that you proceed to a workshop as soon as possible. A solid check engine light indicates the car is safe to drive – with care.
A blinking CEL is much more serious. Sometimes accompanied by red-colored warning messages, this CEL is warning of a serious engine malfunction such as a misfire, where unburnt fuel is entering the vehicle’s exhaust.
A blinking light may be followed by a variety of immediate symptoms such as:
- The car may shake uncontrollably
- You may notice strange smells
- The car may lose power and accelerate very slowly – this is known as a “limp mode” designed to get you home safely
When to Call Alex Renner Motors – Dubai’s Trusted Luxury Car Workshop
If you experience any of the above symptoms, do not ignore them! You are increasing your chances of an expensive and time-consuming car engine repair.
Pull over to the side of the road or into the closest safe parking area as quickly and safely as possible and then switch off your engine. Do not attempt to diagnose the vehicle by yourself – instead, call us at Alex Renner motors and ask for a roadside recovery service to collect your car.
Now that you have understood that there are different kinds of Check Engine Lights, let’s see the typical causes of these warning indicators. In some cases, you may be able to fix the problem yourself. (why is my check engine light on)
Fuel cap:
As strange as it may seem, a loose fuel cap may be responsible for your check engine light. In fact, it’s one of the most common reasons for a CEL, as a fuel station attendant may not secure the cap properly after filling your car up with petrol.
But why does this cause a Check Engine Light? The fuel cap is part of the complex emissions system in your vehicle that is responsible for reducing the number of harmful emissions from your car, produced as part of the normal combustion process. It’s important to have the entire system air tight, so petrol vapors from the fuel tank do not escape via the fuel filler port.
A loose or faulty fuel cap that does not seal properly can trigger a check engine light. Tightening up your cap can also quite literally save you money, as fuel leaving the car via the fuel cap is fuel that isn’t powering your car forwards.
Catalytic converter:
Since the 1970s, cars have had catalytic converters installed as part of the emissions system. Catalytic converters – or “cats” as they are more commonly known – are responsible for cleaning the exhaust gases of harmful emissions such as carbon monoxide or nitrogeon oxide.
Over time, cats can become clogged and become less efficient, reducing both fuel economy and engine performance. Much like a blocked nose, it’s important to keep your engine’s crucial pathways clear of any obstuctions.
Mass Air Flow Sensor:
A Mass Air Flow Sensor (or MAF) is responsible for precisely measuring the amount of air entering your car’s engine. This measurement is used by the car to determine how much fuel to mix with the air and ignite with a spark from the spark plugs to generate the combustion that your car’s pistons and crank turn into forward motion. The faster you want to go, the more air you need – all under the watchful eye of the MAF.
But what happens when the MAF gets dirty? This usually happens when there’s a problem with your engine air filter, allowing dust and debris to get past and clog up the MAF. When that happens, the engine won’t know how much fuel to fix with the air. You’ll experience a variety of symptoms, from a rough engine idle, to reduced accelaration.
If you have a check engine light on or any issues with your car, feel free to contact us to book in for a check up today!
