When something is wrong with one of your vehicle's parts, it can be hard to tell right off the bat. Luckily, our vehicles come equipped with a system of warning lights that alert us when something is wrong. Through our dashboard lights, our vehicle will show us which area of the car needs to be taken a look at. Whether you're looking for info for your Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, or any other vehicle makes, these dashboard lights have mostly universal appearances.
However, sometimes it is not very obvious what this light is trying to tell us. One dashboard light that turns on when various parts are malfunctioning is the check engine light. If your check engine light turns on, it is a good idea to observe when the light turns on and if the light is flashing or is steady. Generally speaking, a steady check engine light does not mean the issue is immediately urgent (although you should still get the issue checked out), but if the light is flashing, you should get your car checked at an auto repair shop immediately.
If you are in Yakima, Washington, Union Gap, Washington, Terrace Heights, Washington, Selah, Washington, Moxee, Washington, or nearby, you can come to AutoMetrics - Yakima. We can determine why your check engine light has turned on by performing a check engine light diagnostic and fix the issue efficiently and skillfully.
Here are some reasons your check engine light may have turned on:
Oxygen sensor failure: Your vehicle's oxygen sensor measures the amount of unburnt oxygen in a car's exhaust system. If this sensor is failing, your engine will keep running but your vehicle will be burning more fuel than usual.
Loose gas cap: If your check engine light turns on right after you've filled your tank with gas, it's likely that you just have a loose fuel cap or you forgot to screw it back on.
Catalytic converter failure: The catalytic converter turns the carbon monoxide produced during the combustion process into carbon dioxide. Spark Plug/coil failures, as well as bad spark plug wires, can cause cat damage. We at AutoMetrics - Yakima can take care of that for you, along with Engine Repair and more.
Spark plug/ignition coil issues: An ignition coil generates electricity the spark plugs need to ignite the air and fuel mixture in your vehicle's cylinders. If you have a diesel vehicle, you do not have spark plugs or ignition coils.
Bad spark plug wires: Some signs of bad spark plug wires include idling, a noticeable drop in engine performance, and the check engine light turning on. If your spark plugs need to be replaced, you can get them from an auto parts store or we at AutoMetrics - Yakima can provide them for you.
Mass airflow sensor failure: The mass airflow sensor monitors how much air enters the engine. If you are experiencing a stumbling, hesitation, rough idle, poor fuel economy, you can come to AutoMetrics - Yakima so we can check out your mass airflow sensor and fix the problem.
What are OBD II trouble codes?
On-Board Diagnostics, or OBD, is a computer system in your vehicle's diagnostic system established in 1996 that monitors and identifies issues with your vehicle. When the OBD system identifies an issue, it turns on the check engine light and records an OBD trouble code. When you bring your vehicle to AutoMetrics - Yakima, we pull codes from the OBD system by plugging a code reader, or scan tool, into your vehicle's OBD port. These codes provide us with more information on under what conditions the check engine light was turned on, making it easier for us to identify what the issue is with your vehicle.
Your Quality Shop for Engine Light Diagnostics
We at AutoMetrics - Yakima, Washington, 98901 are experts in all things auto repair. We've been fixing cars since 1996 and our certified technicians have decades of combined experience. We are one of the highest-rated auto repair shops in the area and can perform a multitude of services on your vehicle, including a multitude of diagnostic services, Engine Repair, and Brake Repair.
Reasons You Should Do Business With Us:
- Reliable service
- Timely service
- Verified & accurate information
- We are THE experts
- Years of Experience - Serving the Yakima, WA community since 1996
- We have excellent 5-star ratings based on reviews from 348 satisfied customers
- Our services come with a 2 year/24,000 mile warranty
- Our technicians are ASE Certified
To schedule an appointment with AutoMetrics - Yakima, give us a call at 509-457-3739 or schedule an appointment online. AutoMetrics - Yakima - Foreign Car Experts.