Why does Check Engine light up? Why does the Engine Check come on?

In the age of modern technology, the technical characteristics of the car provide for a large number of electronics. Machines are literally crammed with it. Some motorists do not even understand why it is needed or why this or that light is shining. In this article we will talk about a small red light bulb called Check Engine. What is this and why does the "Check" light up? Let's consider in more detail. To deal with this issue, drivers begin when a problem arises. After they understand the purpose of the light bulb, the head starts to hurt even more, because the reasons for the lighting of the Check Engine light bulb set. Many instantly resort to the help of auto-services, because they believe that without conducting a diagnosis, it is almost impossible to find a reason.

What kind of bulb is it and what does it threaten a car enthusiast?

Check Engine, or "Chek Engin", in literal translation means that you should check the motor. It is located on the main panel, and the slightest glow of the bulb signals the driver about the malfunctions with the power unit. The main function of modern "Chekov" is the control of engine speed. They are related to fuel supply, fuel consumption, ignition, etc. If you do not have some knowledge in the automotive field, it will be very difficult to find out why the Check comes on.

Your actions, if the "Check" of the engine caught fire

First, you should remember that this light does not always signal a malfunction in the engine.

1. If the "Check" lights up at the start of the power unit and then goes out, it means that the motor is completely normal, and this is not a cause for concern.
2. If the indicator does not go out, start worrying because there are breakages in the engine. But it is not necessary to get upset, because there is a possibility that they are insignificant, although critical ones are not ruled out.

Is it possible to continue driving if the Check Angie light comes on?

The first thing to do when lighting the indicated indicator is to stop and listen to the car. There are times when the malfunction itself disappears. Still, we do not have the most unique electronics. If the problem remains - it is necessary to find the nearest SRT and try to solve it.

When going to a maintenance station, you must follow certain rules:

• The mode of movement of the vehicle must be gentle;
• Try not to maximize the level of turnover;
• Disable all electronic excesses in the form of air conditioning, radio, DVR and any equipment that is at this time is in the car (multimedia systems also apply to them);
• To minimize the amount of sudden braking, extreme driving in this case is not welcome;
• The movement of vehicles at night with this disadvantage is not recommended;
• If you find trouble in the evening time on the road, the best way out of the situation will be to observe certain precautions.

Remember that ignoring the specified rules can lead to a malfunction of the engine, which can result in wedging or fire.

The main causes of the Check Engine indicator light

1. On the move, the Chek lights up. The cause may be an insufficient level of oil in the engine. In order to verify this, you must stop the car, open the hood and carefully listen to the engine. If the power unit is working smoothly, without foreign noise, does not knock, there are no streaks of any kind, all parts of the body are hermetically sealed - that means, the reason is not that. When checking the oil level with a dipstick, remember that the machine must be on the flatest possible surface. Otherwise, the error may be plus or minus a few liters. In case of revealing at least one of the indicated shortcomings, it is necessary to urgently turn to the help of highly qualified specialists.
2. The "Check" lights up when the motor is running smoothly. If the "Chek" lights up on the idle ones, the ignition sweeps are likely to be malfunctioning. It is possible that one of them has failed. Also one of the reasons is poor quality fuel. Usually this breakdown is detected immediately after leaving the refueling. In this case it is not so rare for our region. If the "Check", whose reasons are related to the quality of the fuel, caught fire with a higher octane number or change the refueling.

Check Engine flickers due to malfunction of candles

Such a problem can arise if the candles have not changed for too long. It is by no means recommended to save on them. Their cost is not so expensive. More expensive will repair the engine.

If you are a big economist, replace the part yourself. For this you only need a candle key.

Unscrew candles for them, check them for operation. If the problem is not at all in them - clean them from the carbon deposits and only then replace them. In the event that the candles are out of order - get new ones. When carrying out work, pay attention to the gap between the electrodes. It should be no more than 1.3 mm. In case of any discrepancies, correct.

Problem with the ignition coil

It can cause the Check Engine light to come on and the ignition coil is malfunctioning . Use a multimeter to check the coil. Make sure there is a spark on the output.

The problem with the oxygen sensor

Symptoms: the engine is running, the "Check" has caught fire. The cause of this fault is the exhaust system. The lambda probe reading is checked regularly by the on-board computer. The probe controls the amount of oxygen in the exhaust gases, which allows to determine how efficient the power unit is and how well the fuel burns.

If there is more oxygen in the exhaust, perhaps the cause is in violation of the fuel-air mixture preparation system. Or the fuel does not burn completely. Whatever the reason, the "Check" will signal a malfunction in the engine.

In some modern cars, 2 lambda probes are installed. The first - to the catalyst, the second - after. If the catalyst will work properly, then the oxygen supply will be corresponding. From this it follows that the work of the oxygen sensor largely depends on the efficiency of the catalyst, because it controls the reduction in toxicity of the exhaust.

The mass air flow sensor failed

It is possible that the element has failed due to its coating with dust. But this is not the main reason for its loss of efficiency. Just may deviate in the testimony. To eliminate this reason, it is necessary to clean the sensor with a special liquid.

It should be remembered that when using as a carburetor purifier, you can cause irreparable damage to the sensor. If the oxygen sensor completely exits, it must be replaced.

Failure of catalyst

In the event of a catalyst failure, you will not be able to fully ride the car in any way, as the engine will not operate as expected, as indicated by the "Check" button. In this case, your car will have a significant fuel consumption and there will be no traction. In this case, preventive and repair measures will not help. The equipment needs replacing. Yes, the catalyst is a rather expensive thing, but if the problem is in it - the defect is completely self-destructing.

Breakage of injectors, gasoline pumps

If the nozzles are confirmed, clean them. If the pump and the fuel filter are unstable, you will first have to check the pressure in the ramp. If it is not less than three atmospheres and the disadvantages are clearly visible - replace the gasoline pump and clean the injectors.

Recommendations for testing high-voltage wires

High-voltage wires are one more reason when the "Check" lights up. To verify it, follow the recommendations below. In order to check the high voltage wires yourself, you should do the following:

1. Fill a stainless container with water and pour a tablespoon of soda.
2. Dip the wires into the solution, leaving the ends on the surface. Then start testing the wires using a megger. To the first tip connect the device itself, and the other wire must be connected to the capacitance with wires. If the insulation fault is detected, the resistance will be less than 500 kOhm. In this case, the wires need replacement.

Say no to panic

If the "Check" button is lit, do not panic. This does not help to eliminate the shortcomings. Get together and try to fix the flaws yourself according to the recommendations in our article, and only then look for the causes more deeply.

If the above advice did not help you, and you still can not decide what is causing the "Check", you should ask the professionals for help. You do not have to invent anything yourself. Today's service stations are equipped with the most highly technological and modern equipment, which will help to find a solution to this issue. Of course, you may have to spend a certain amount of money. But this is not the end of the world. The main thing - to find the reason, because it is on your safety on the road.