Dodge Service Team Shows Los Angeles the (Check Engine) Light

Friday, 20 February, 2015

How long have you been driving with the Check Engine Light on? We know when it first came on you got that sinking feeling in your stomach that something serious could be wrong. You’ve meant to bring it in for service, but just haven’t found the time. It’s just been sitting there on your dashboard, seeming as if it grows brighter and brighter each day. It’s mocking you now.

We know any form of car trouble can leave you on the side of the road, spinning your wheels with worry. We don’t want to see you in this situation, and at Glenn E. Thomas Dodge Chrysler Jeep we’d like to do our part to keep you out of pit-row. Bringing your car in for regular maintenance and tune-ups can prevent further issues, saving you stress and money. Let our team of highly trained technicians look under your hood, and we’ll have your car running like new every time.

Our Dodge Service Team serving Los Angeles has outlined just exactly what may be wrong when that Check Engine Light illuminates your dash.

Enlighten Your Drive

We’re sure you’ve heard it a hundred times, but it remains true. The engine is the heart of your car. If your engine isn’t working properly, the rest of your car quickly falls apart. So really, when that light first comes on, it’s of upmost importance that you bring the car into us. We’ll get you back on the road in no time and you’ll avoid a costly repair in the future. Here are the top five reasons that pesky light is on:

• Your Oxygen (O2) Sensor Needs ReplacingWhat’s your oxygen sensor? This measures the amount of unburned oxygen in your vehicle’s exhaust system. By letting this problem pester, you’re not only doing further damage to your vehicle but also your wallet. You’ll experience a loss of fuel economy, as you’ll burn more fuel than needed. You can also potentially cause damage to your spark plugs and catalytic converter.
• Loose, Missing, or Damaged Gas CapIt’s not always the worst possible scenario. Sometimes your gas cap can trigger your check engine light if it is loose, missing, or damaged. If it’s something as simple as tightening your gas cap, you can do that within seconds. But if it is damaged or missing, you’ll loose fuel through evaporation and you’ll make more trips to the fuel pump.Don’t place the stress on your wallet or the atmosphere; the highly trained technicians at our Dodge dealership near Los Angeles will service your vehicle with ease!

• Catalytic Converter Needs Replacing 
  our catalytic converter takes the harmful carbon monoxide your car produces and changes it into carbon dioxide. A faulty one can be the result of ignoring previous car issues, like your aforementioned oxygen sensor. If you do not replace this, your car will fail a future inspection, run at a higher temperature, and you’ll have reduced fuel economy.
• Mass Airflow Sensor Needs ReplacingThe mass airflow sensor measures the amount of air entering into the engine. This determines how much fuel is needed to run your engine efficiently. If you let this problem persist, you’ll cause damage to your spark plugs, O2 sensor, and catalytic converter, while your car drastically underperforms.
• Spark Plugs Need ReplacingYour spark plugs ignite the air and fuel mixture in the combustion chamber of your vehicle. Your spark plug wires carry the spark from the ignition coil to the spark plugs. Either one of these can be operating faulty and lead to an underperforming engine. If this escalates, eventually your engine will shut down completely.

While we respect any do-it-yourself attitudes out there, if your check engine light does come on, we’ll gladly pop the hood and take care of the issue for you. Be sure to visit Glenn E. Thomas Dodge Chrysler Jeep and our Dodge Service Department serving Los Angeles for all your car needs. Call (888) 793-2409 for more questions today!