My Check Engine Light Went On — What Now?

May 14th, 2018 by

Service Engine Soon Closeup

Say you’re taking a trip from Maple Grove to Minnetonka and the dreaded “check engine” light in your instrument cluster lights up. Your stomach might turn at the thought, but don’t panic! The check engine light light can signify plenty of minor issues, not just major problems.

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So let’s do some troubleshooting. And if you’re still stumped aftward, don’t hesitate to bring your car into the Cornerstone Plymouth’s service department so we can get to the bottom of it.

Why Did My Check Engine Light Turn On?

Some of the most common reasons that your Check Engine light might be on include:

Reason What Could Happen if You Don’t Get Service
Oxygen sensor replacement warning
  • Decreased efficiency
  • Damage to the spark plugs and/or catalytic converter
Loose, damaged, or no gas cap
  • Decreased efficiency
Airflow sensor replacement warning
  • Will fail emissions test
  • Decreased performance and efficiency
Catalytic converter replacement warning
  • Damage to parts such as the catalytic converter, oxygen sensors, spark plugs, etc.
  • Decreased performance and efficiency
Spark plug replacement warning
  • Decreased performance and efficiency
  • Damage to parts such as plugs, catalytic converter, oxygen sensors, ignition coils, etc.

How Can I Troubleshoot the Check Engine Light?

Even something as simple and easy as not tightening your gas cap enough can cause the Check Engine light to turn on, so that should be the first thing you check on. If you’ve got some car repair experience, you might try replacing individual parts if the problem persists, but it will likely be a timesaver to bring your vehicle in to a professional.

Make the Trip From Brooklyn Park to Get Help at Cornerstone Plymouth

Fortunately, the factory-trained experts at Cornerstone Plymouth can diagnose and repair whatever is causing your Check Engine light to cry for help. Schedule an appointment today, or just visit us during our regular hours.

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