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The dreaded “check engine” light. This tiny little glowing symbol on your
dashboard has been seen by all at one time or another and might make you
terrified that your car is doomed, but thankfully you’ve got Vesas Automotive on
your side! Our experience has taught us that these problems are manageable, so
before you haul your car to the scrap yard, check out this list of likely culprits.

Failing Emissions System/Leak
The EVAP, or Evaporative Emissions System in your vehicle is a closed, selfregulating system that captures vapors from the fuel tank before they escape into
the atmosphere. Your driving experience won’t change noticeably beyond the
engine warning light, but it is a symptom of a larger problem: missing/unsealed
gas cap, fuel tank leaks, or cracks in the EVAP hoses themselves. Get it checked
as soon as possible!

Failing Oxygen Sensor
The primary purpose of this little beauty is to measure the amount of oxygen
coming from a vehicle’s exhaust system. When it starts to fail, your vehicle’s
onboard computer will not be able to properly gauge the airflow mixture running
through the engine and burn a lot more fuel than necessary, as well as potentially
cause damage to your spark plugs, catalytic converter and any other part that’s
used during the combustion process.

Failing Catalytic Converter
The catalytic converter’s role is to turn carbon monoxide emissions into carbon
dioxide, and while a faulty one isn’t actively dangerous, your vehicle will not pass
its next emissions test and will require a replacement. Located under your vehicle
and built together with the exhaust pipe system, this car problem occurs only after
years of wear and tear or when neglecting general maintenance, so a failing
catalytic converter is usually a symptom of a bigger problem.

Failing MAF (Mass Airflow Sensor)
Much like the oxygen sensor the MAF measures airflow, but in this case
specifically measures the amount of air coming into the engine to determine the
fuel requirements for efficient combustion. A bad MAF means potential damage to
spark plugs, oxygen sensors and the catalytic converter, so don’t ignore this
problem for too long either.

Failing Spark Plugs and Wiring
Used to ignite the air and fuel mixture in the combustion chamber of engine
cylinders, spark plugs are one of the most crucial parts involved in starting and
running your vehicle’s engine. Bad plugs or wiring creates improper combustion
timing and reduces fuel economy, clogs the catalytic converter and can even
damage the ignition coils and oxygen/MAF sensors.

Regardless of the possibilities, it’s important to get your vehicle services as soon
as possible to properly identify the problem. Bring your vehicle to our shop at
Vesas Automotive and we’ll help you diagnose and repair the problem before it
causes further damage. Trust us, you’ll be glad you did! Thanks for reading our
blog as always and feel free to contact us with any questions. Happy driving!