What’s the Check Engine Light About?

Most drivers have seen it at some point, and their heart has skipped a beat. It’s the Check Engine Light. Greg Heins, Service Director at Jay Wolfe Toyota, mentions that one of the most commonly asked questions they receive is, “Why is my Check Engine Light on?” The answer isn’t always very clear.

How to Identify the Check Engine Light

The first step is knowing what you’re looking for. It’s known as the Check Engine Light because its image is crudely shaped like an engine with the word ‘CHECK’ below it. You’ll find it on instrument cluster and it will always be amber-colored, or orange, when it’s lit up. It’s officially known as the Malfunction Indicator Lamp, but that doesn’t roll off the tongue as nicely.

What Does It Mean?

Here’s where it’s a little muddy. When it’s lit up when your engine is running, Greg says, “It’s indicating a malfunction somewhere in the vehicle. This can mean many different things.” Suffice to say, that probably doesn’t help calm your nerves about its sudden appearance.
But Greg continues, “If your vehicle is not running any differently or the light is not flashing, it’s probably safe to drive. Pull over to a safe location and give us a call to schedule an appointment for diagnosis. “

Common Causes of a Check Engine Light

If you’re wondering what it could possibly be, even if it isn’t urgent, these are a few common Check Engine Light causes:
• Loose fuel cap. It’s possible your fuel cap was left loose the last time you visited the gas station. If so, your car thinks there’s a major fuel leak because it isn’t sealed.
• Emissions-related problems. A faulty oxygen sensor or one of several other emissions-related components could be to blame for the Check Engine Light.
• Mass airflow sensor. Your vehicle could be reading that it isn’t getting enough air into the engine because of a bad sensor – or it could be a plugged air filter causing that reading!
If your Toyota’s Check Engine Light is on, get it corrected as soon as you can. Contact Jay Wolfe Toyota for an appointment to get it diagnosed and repaired.