What causes the check engine light to come on? Mine came on, I thought it was because I haven't had an oil change for a while (which has happened before, and then the light resets itself after a while), well this time it didn't turn off. What could be causing it to come/stay on? My car has been running like normal. Any suggestions?
2007-01-12 07:18:40 · 4 answers · asked by xwearingthinx 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Makes ➔ Volkswagen
You can take your car to AutoZone...the car parts place....they have a unit that can basically tell you why the light is coming on. They don't charge to help you out.
2007-01-12 07:22:46 · answer #1 · answered by gg 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The check engine light comes on when an emission related sensor detects something that is out of a set perameter, for example if the O2 sensor is supposed to read a certain value at a certain time and does not the light will come on. Some codes are hard codes ie they have to be turned off with a scan tool. Others are soft codes ie they will go away after a set number of engine starts. It is impossibleto tell you exactly what is causing your check engine light without scanning the memory of your Engine control module. Incidentally your oil can be fouled with gasoline and can cause a check engine light so it could be as simple as an oil change.
2007-01-12 08:42:05 · answer #2 · answered by jhrichjr77099 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you don't want to buy a $100 OBD-II scanner from Actron at your local auto parts store that will allow you to read out the computer codes that turn the yellow check engine light on, then go to an AutoZone parts store to have them read out for free.
2007-01-12 07:23:42 · answer #3 · answered by bobweb 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is most likely a O2 sensor. Not too much money. Get your Oil changed though.
2007-01-12 08:00:27 · answer #4 · answered by Dent Doctor 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋