We have a lot of helpful information on our site about the Check Engine light and what can trigger this light to come on. Click on the links to read:

Is Your Check Engine Light On?

What Should You Do When the Check Engine Light Comes On?

Both pages will give you a better understanding of how the Check Engine or Service Engine Soon warning light functions and how to best deal with it when the light comes on.

Why would a bad ignition coil cause the Check Engine Light to come on?

To answer this question, it’s helpful to know how an ignition coil works. In the simplest of explanations, an ignition coil converts the low voltage received from the car battery into the number of volts needed to create the spark for combustion. Your car’s engine has either one ignition coil for each spark plug or one for every two spark plugs. If the ignition coil goes bad, it won’t send the necessary volts to the spark plug so it can ignite the air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. This then causes the engine to misfire which in turn affects the emissions. That’s why the Check Engine light will come on. Over time, if not fixed, serious engine damage can occur ranging from damaged cylinders to needing to replace the catalytic converter.

Is there a way to prevent ignition coils from failing?

There sure is! Don’t ignore engine maintenance items like tune-ups. As you can see by our very brief explanation, the ignition coil and spark plugs work together. To make sure the ignition coil isn’t damaged by a failing spark plug, have the spark plugs and wires changed and the timing reset according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Likewise, if the Service Engine Soon or Check Engine light comes on, bring it in to our shop right away to locate and fix the problem. Lastly, if one or more of the ignition coils need to be replaced, change out all of them. More than likely, if one is bad, another one will soon follow.

For Check Engine light or ignition coil problems, bring your vehicle to Geller’s Automotive where our trusted mechanics can assist you. Click here to schedule an appointment in our Byram, New Jersey auto repair shop now.

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What’s the lit up Check Engine Light or Service Engine Light telling me?

Your automobile is controlled by a very sophisticated computer system built to keep your vehicle running at peak performance while also protecting the environment from excess pollutants. Part of the vehicle’s computer includes an onboard diagnostic (OBD) system which is continually checking the electronic sensors and emission control systems. If the OBD detects a possible problem, it sets off the Check Engine light or Service Engine Soon light on your dashboard.

The nice thing about this warning light is that it will alert you to a small problem within the emissions control system so you can respond and have it fixed before the problem becomes more serious. When this light comes on, it’s prudent to schedule an appointment to have it fixed as soon as possible. If you ignore the light and delay the repair, you risk serious damage to exhaust system components like the catalytic converter. That’s an expensive part to replace and something I’m quite certain you’d want to avoid, if at all possible.

Why is the light on and what should I do?

Many times this light will come on when there is a vacuum leak caused by a loose or faulty gas cap. Yes, your gas cap can be the cause for the lit Check Engine light or Service Engine Soon light. Here’s the good news. If the gas cap is the reason the light is coming on, you can fix this yourself and for very little expense. It’s quite simple. Begin with taking off the gas cap and putting it back on, making certain it’s installed correctly. Next, you’ll have to drive the vehicle several times to allow the OBD system to reset itself. If a loose gas cap was the reason behind the light being on, it will turn off. If this doesn’t fix the problem, the next step is to replace the gas cap. Don’t be tempted to purchase an inexpensive gas gap. It’s best to purchase one that’s specifically made for your vehicle. Once you replace the gas cap, you’ll have to drive your vehicle again several times to find out if the light will turn off.

If you go through these steps and the Check Engine/Service Engine Soon still remains on, schedule an appointment with Geller’s Automotive in Byram, New Jersey. Determining why a Check Engine or Service Engine Light is on is not as easy as getting a reading of the ODB codes at the local auto parts store. There are literally hundreds of codes with each one resulting from any number of issues. Our ASE-Certified Technicians have the training and experience to find the cause of the problem and properly fix it.

What are some other common reasons the Check Engine or Service Engine Soon light turns on?

A Faulty Oxygen Sensor: For your car’s engine to work efficiently, it requires a particular ratio of oxygen to fuel. When there’s insufficient oxygen, your engine will be running “rich” (there’s gas remaining from the combustion process). Conversely, an excessive amount of oxygen will result in poor engine performance and can even harm the engine. The oxygen sensor works together with the engine’s computer system to gauge and adjust the air/fuel ratio. When the sensor is faulty, the computer can’t adjust the air/fuel ratio triggering the light to come on. When the oxygen sensor isn’t working, you’ll notice a loss of engine power. If you don’t replace the sensor right away, the spark plugs will end up fouled and you can damage the catalytic converter.

Spark Plugs & Wires: Worn-out spark plugs and wires will impede the combustion process. The spark plugs produce a spark that ignites the air/fuel mixture. If the plugs misfire, you’ll notice some hesitation whenever you accelerate. Don’t wait until the spark plugs and wires are totally worn out. It’s best to have them replaced at the mileage suggested in your owner’s manual. The cost of doing so is far less expensive than it would be to replace various components in your vehicle’s exhaust system.

The Mass Airflow Sensor is Faulty: This sensor is responsible for measuring the amount of air passing through the air filter and then sending that information to the computer so it can send the correct amount of fuel to the engine. If the mass airflow sensor went bad, you’ll notice a decrease in fuel economy. If you ignore this, your vehicle may start to stall. Eventually, you risk damaging the spark plugs, oxygen sensor, and/or the catalytic converter.

Last Remarks Concerning the Check Engine and Service Engine Soon Light

As soon as your Check Engine or Service Engine Soon light comes on, bring it in for service and repair. In so doing, you’ll avoid damaging your engine and exhaust systems. The catalytic converter is a very expensive part to replace. That’s because it is made from rare metals – platinum, palladium and/or rhodium. No one likes or wants a high repair bill. Caring for minor issues when first alerted is the best course of action. If your Check Engine or Service Engine Soon light is on, click here to make an appointment with Geller’s Automotive in Byram, NJ.

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