It is well known that modern cars have gone far from their predecessors, not only in the field of design and comfort, but also in terms of electronics.
The latter factor can hardly be considered an advantage in terms of reliability, but the fact is the fact, and the modern motorist has to put up with it. However, the injection system in power units, which came to replace the traditional carburetor for the sake of the environment, also has significant convenience - a self-diagnosis system, thanks to which you can find out about the occurrence of engine malfunctions.
On most vehicles, the operation of this system is characterized by the inclusion of an indicator check engine on the instrument panel. About what constitutes this system and from what the indicator lights up, we will talk in this publication.
Check Engine Translation
The indicator with the inscription Check Engine, which translated from English into Russian means "Check the engine", is designed to signal a possible malfunction in the vehicle's power unit.
It is displayed if the electronic engine control unit (ECU) has detected an error in the operation of one of the components and assemblies. In order to better understand how this happens, we should briefly dwell on the operation of the entire system of self-diagnosis of modern cars.
So, the car self-diagnosis system includes the following components:
- electronic sensors essential elements fuel injection and exhaust systems;
- an ignition control unit that processes information from the sensors and regulates the fuel supply according to the data received;
- an emergency display system that notifies the driver about possible problems in the operation of certain nodes fixed by sensors (it is she, in fact, who lights the "Check" on the instrument panel).
Thus, a Chek Engine on fire can, in theory, mean any malfunction or sensor failure.
In fact, car owners without an on-board computer are faced with just such a situation - the car informs its owner about the problem by means of an indicator, but it is not possible to find out how serious it is without connecting a diagnostic scanner.
Such a scanner allows you to access the memory of the electronic control unit and read the error code, according to which you can determine the cause of the malfunction with high accuracy.
I must say that many cars with an on-board computer also have this feature, which is certainly much more convenient.
The engine malfunction light came on - possible causes
Reasons for the check engine light to turn on dashboard there are quite a few. We will try to describe them in descending order of probability:
- Poor fuel quality (in this case, the purity of the exhaust is disturbed, which leads to malfunctions of the lambda probe and the output of a warning signal).
- Failure of one or more sensors.
- Violation of composition fuel mixture due to the failure of individual components of the system.
- Failure in electronics.
- Clogged nozzles.
- Violation of the fuel supply to the engine.
- Mechanical failures power unit.
Video - Check engine malfunction is on:
As you can see, serious engine problems associated with mechanical failure of components and assemblies are far from main reason occurrence of an alarm.
What to do if the check engine malfunction is on
In the event that the Check Engine caught fire, it is necessary, first of all, to determine the severity of the breakdown. For this you need:
- Observe the "behavior" of the car and determine if the malfunction affects the operation of the power unit. In particular, pay attention to the stability of its work on idling, traction, etc. That is, to understand whether the operation of the motor has changed since the appearance of the signal.
- If the car is equipped with an on-board computer, view the error code, and then correlate it with the code map, which can be found in the literature on repairing your car or on the Internet. This method, in fact, will allow you to determine the problem with a high degree of accuracy.
- If there is no on-board computer in the car, you can try to throw off the burning "Check" yourself. After all, often the cause of its appearance can be a software or electrical failure. To do this, open the hood and disconnect the battery terminal for 10 minutes, completely de-energizing the car. It is possible that when the terminal is reconnected and the engine is started, the list of temporary errors in the ECU will be reset and the alarm will disappear.
- If there are malfunctions in the operation of the motor, and the "Check" itself does not disappear after turning off the power, it makes sense to diagnose the motor using an external scanner under service conditions. The wizards will “take off” the ECU readings and be able to determine the error code. This procedure you can do it yourself, but for its implementation you will need a service scanner or a special cord for connecting a PC to the car’s service connector, as well as a specialized software. Since both options are quite expensive, such a purchase is justified only if you plan to do diagnostics professionally. Buying such equipment for personal needs is unlikely to be economically justified.
It is worth mentioning one more feature. The fact is that the Check Engine indicator may not always burn constantly. It is not uncommon for a car owner to notice that the Check Engine lights up on the instrument panel and goes out. Such "floating" faults often indicate.
Video - what you can try to do if the CHECK engine malfunction on the VAZ is on:
If you notice such "symptoms", it makes sense to change gas stations and observe the further "behavior" of the indicator. With a high degree of probability, the lamp will stop lighting up. Also, when refueling with fresh fuel, use the above advice and turn off the power to the vehicle for ten minutes. This procedure will erase temporary errors from the memory of the central engine control unit of the car.
The appearance of an engine malfunction icon on a number of car models also occurs for some reasons that are specific to a car of this brand.
In particular, the fact is known that the Check Engine caught fire on cars Chevrolet Lanos (Zaz Chance) almost immediately after purchase, on a run of 10-15 thousand kilometers. This nuance was not associated with any technical malfunctions and was eliminated by flashing the engine control unit. In fact, it was just a factory defect in the software.
conclusions
As we can see, the appearance check icon The engine does not always indicate a dangerous breakdown. Nevertheless, the factory instructions of the automakers, when the signaling device is triggered, unambiguously recommend conducting the most prompt diagnostics as possible and prohibit the operation of the vehicle until the cause of the breakdown is identified.
In practice, these tips should really be heeded, and this is due to the fact that the signaling device can inform both a very simple problem that does not affect traffic safety, and serious mechanical breakdowns under which further use of the car is impossible.
For this reason, we recommend that immediately after the “Check” lights up on the dashboard, establish the cause of its appearance and make a diagnosis. This is the only way to avoid serious troubles and quickly identify a malfunction in the car.
One of my old friends recently bought a new car. After a week of operating the car, I began to call several times a day and ask what the icon on the dashboard that lit up on the dashboard means. By the way, among the newly minted owners of modern cars, this is not an isolated case. Many motorists sitting behind the wheel of a new modern car, and seeing on the tidy that the indicator lights up, immediately get scared and think that there has been a breakdown in some system, but in fact, this is not always the case.
Indicators notify the driver not only about malfunctions, but also about one or another action that a person driving a car must perform. Signals on the dashboard can be compared to road signs, which are warning and prohibition.
Indicators on the dashboard can be divided into several categories and subcategories.
And so, what you should know and remember. If a red icon with any icon lights up on the device, it is highly likely that there is a problem in the car, with which its operation is extremely undesirable, and can lead to serious consequences. In this case, you should immediately stop, turn off the engine and tow or transport the car on a tow truck to the service.
If the yellow or orange color, which is a warning about wrong work or failure of the controlling element of one of automotive systems without delay, show the car to a specialist who will determine the problem in order to fix it. In this case, the operation of the car is allowed in a limited mode, only for independent movement to the car service. On some vehicles, after a warning signal appears on the dashboard, a lock occurs full-fledged work many systems and the car goes into emergency mode, in which the speed and control of the power unit will be limited.
An illuminated green icon on the dashboard indicates that a certain system is on and functioning normally, therefore, it is safe to continue driving.
I hope that you understand the main categories of indicators on the dashboard of a car. If there are no questions, we move on and consider specifically each icon, its designation and what it signals.
Deciphering the icons on the dashboard
Important icons on the dashboard, under which the operation of the car is not recommended
Handbrake on or level brake fluid in the system is lower than allowed. Also, this indicator may indicate a malfunction of the brake system itself, depressurization, pad wear, etc.
The indicator with a red battery that lights up indicates the absence or malfunction in the power supply of the generator-battery circuit. The indicator, on which, in addition to the battery, there is also the inscription “MAIN”, as a rule, indicates problems with battery charging on hybrid vehicles.
The appearance of this lit indicator on the scoreboard is usually accompanied by a buzzer sound message or a voice message. The danger icon indicates that an emergency situation has occurred in the car, one or more doors, the hood, etc. are not closed.
The danger indicator in the orange triangle informs the driver about malfunctions in the stabilization system.
The problem with SRS is Supplemental Restraint System, which, translated into Russian, indicates a malfunction in the system passive safety or, as the airbags are also called.
Indicators similar in informativeness to the previous ones, they only indicate that the airbags front passenger does not work.
There is also an indicator of the passive safety system, which signals the driver that there is a child or a person with a small weight in the front seat, which can cause the front passenger airbag to fail to deploy in case of an accident.
The Pre Collision or Crash System (PCS), which is activated when the vehicle rolls over, does not work. In some cases, the indicator may come on during or after off-road driving.
Pre Collision or Crash System (PCS) not working
This indicator lights up during the activation of the immobilizer or the standard anti-theft system.
Error when turning on the standard anti-theft system or its non-working state.
Problems with automatic transmission - oil overheating, errors in the automatic transmission control unit, failure.
A description of this malfunction should be found in the owner's manual for the car.
These indicators are found on vehicles with automatic transmission (Automatic Transmission - A / T) and signal an increase in the limit allowable temperature in it, which can lead to failure of the automatic transmission. Movement in this case is highly undesirable, it is recommended to wait until the box has cooled down.
The appearance of this icon also indicates (Automatic Transmission - AT). The movement of the car in this case is highly undesirable.
Shows the transfer of the automatic transmission selector knob to the “P” “parking” mode on vehicles with all-wheel drive, which has a number of reduced speeds. In this case, the machine is blocked when the lever is in position (N)
Some vehicles with automatic transmission may have this badge on the dashboard, which lights up when in the box. low level or weak pressure oil, overheating, one of the sensors is not working, or there is another problem. In this case, the system turns on the emergency mode - the car can only move in one gear per minimum speed with minimum engine speed to protect automatic transmission parts from further destruction.
This yellow shift up arrow tells the driver to upshift to save fuel.
Not working or there is a problem with the power steering.
The fluid level in the brake system is below acceptable
Brake pads have unacceptable wear.
The brake force distribution system on the wheels of the car is faulty.
The electric parking brake does not work or does not work properly.
If the car has a tire pressure monitoring system, then when the pressure drops by more than 25% of the nominal value in one or more wheels, you will see these icons on the dashboard.
The indicator " ", as a rule, lights up during the operation of the power unit and signals that one or more engine systems have a malfunction. In some vehicles, the appearance of this icon may be accompanied by the shutdown of some systems until the problem is identified and corrected. It is also possible to limit the fuel supply, to prevent the engine from running at increased speed to reduce the load.
The motor motor has lost power - this indicator is on. To solve the problem, it is possible to stop the motor and start it after about 10 seconds.
A malfunction has been detected in the electronic part of the transmission or a problem in the operation of the power unit. Also, this indicator can signal a malfunction or injection system.
The fuel tank cap is not closed.
An information indicator that serves to draw the driver's attention to an already existing problem or a burning icon on the car's dashboard.
Instructs the driver to look up information in the owner's manual for this vehicle.
These indicators relate to the engine cooling system, and their appearance on the instrument panel may indicate that the coolant level is below the permissible level or its temperature exceeds the permissible value.
Throttle problems
The Blind Spot - BSM (Blind Spot Tracking) system does not work or does not work properly.
A signal to the driver that it is time to undergo a scheduled maintenance with an oil change (OIL CHANGE) and engine filters. However, on some machines, the first light may come on if there are shear problems that need to be corrected. In this case, computer diagnostics is recommended.
Night View - The night vision system is faulty or not working properly. Check if the infrared sensors are not working.
Traction and Active Traction Control, Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), Traction Control System (TCS)) - indicators indicate the state and functioning of the traction control system. Solid green - the system is on. Yellow - a problem has been detected in the operation of the traction control system. I would like to note that TCS, DTC are directly related to the brake and fuel supply systems, and if a malfunction is detected in them or they do not work, then the traction control system will also give an error on the indicator.
The Electronic Stability Program - ESP (Emergency Brake Assist) and Brake Assist System - BAS (stabilization system) have problems or are malfunctioning.
The Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) is not working or is not working properly.
These indicators are present on the instrument panel of the car, which have systems for descending / lifting from a mountain, systems for maintaining a constant speed and systems for starting off assistance. These icons indicate the condition of the vehicle in certain situation while overcoming obstacles.
Disabled and whether the stabilization system (Stability Control) is not working. I would like to note that the deactivation of this system occurs when the “Check Engine” indicator lights up. The stabilization system serves to level the car while sliding or skidding using the brake system, fuel supply system and suspension control.
Electronic Stability Program (ESP) or Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) indicators indicate the operation of the electronically locking differential and traction control system Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR).
Brake Assist System (BAS) is not working or is not working properly. In this case, the Electronic Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR) system is disabled
Intelligent assistance system during emergency braking Intelligent Brake Assist - IBA - Disabled. This feature of the vehicle is capable of applying the brakes before a collision occurs. If you have activated Intelligent Brake Assist and the light stays on, the laser sensors are most likely dirty or defective.
Indicates to the driver that the car has begun to slip on the road, in which case the stabilization system will be automatically activated.
Does not work (faulty or disabled), while the car can be driven without any problems.
Presence or absence electronic key in the car.
The first icon indicates the presence of an electronic key, the second indicates that the key battery is low and needs to be replaced.
Snow Mode is activated. This mode is present on automatic transmissions to simplify the movement and starting of the car on snow and ice.
Smart car systems, signaling with this indicator, offer the driver to stop and rest. In some cases, on some cars, a pleasant female voice will ask you to pause and have a cup of coffee.
If the car is equipped with a system that allows you to adjust the height of the body position, for a comfortable fit for the driver and passengers, then this indicator lights up when it is activated.
Adaptive Cruise Control - ACC - adaptive cruise control included. This feature will provide optimum speed vehicle, taking into account the position on the road of other Vehicle and the nature of the area. A flashing icon indicates that the system has problems or is not working.
Rear window heating on
Indicates that Brake Hold ( brake system) is activated. To turn it off, press the gas pedal.
Sport Suspension Setting / Comfort Suspension Setting - shock absorber modes. Accordingly, comfortable or sport modes are included.
If your vehicle has air suspension, then the designation of this icon HEIGHT HIGH indicates the maximum position of the vehicle body above the road.
Problems with undercarriage car or you need diagnostics of suspension units - Check Suspension.
The presence in the car of the Collision Mitigation Brake System - CMBS, which means collision avoidance system, can turn on this indicator, which warns of problems with this system or contamination of the sensors.
Tow Mode – trailer mode is activated.
Park Assist - parking assistance system. Green indicator indicates activation of Park Assist, yellow indicates a problem with the system.
Lane System Information Indicators Departure Warning Indicator - LDW, Lane Keeping Assist - LKA, or Lane Departure Prevention - LDP, which track the vehicle's lanes. If the yellow icon blinks (in some cars the warning buzzer may turn on) - the car moves to the side and the lane should be aligned, yellow blinking indicates a malfunction. A green indicator indicates the activation of this system.
The Start / Stop system, the purpose of which is to save fuel, does not work due to a malfunction. When the car is standing still, the engine is turned off, as soon as the driver presses the gas pedal, the engine starts.
Fuel economy mode is activated.
The indicator lights up when ECO MODE is activated, which significantly saves fuel consumption while driving.
An information indicator that tells the driver to upshift to save fuel.
If the car has a front and rear wheel drive this indicator signals the transition of the car's transmission to the drive rear wheels.
An icon that indicates to the driver that the car's transmission is in rear-wheel drive mode, but if necessary, all-wheel drive will automatically turn on.
All wheel drive included
All-wheel drive in low gear engaged
It turns on when the differential is locked to increase the vehicle's patency while driving on all-wheel drive.
The interwheel differential of the rear wheels is locked.
Shutdown all-wheel drive. The key icon indicates a problem with the all-wheel drive transmission.
Signals about malfunctions in the all-wheel drive system with the engine running. Also, this indicator may indicate a discrepancy between the diameter of the wheels of the rear and front axles.
Perhaps the differential has overheated or there are other problems in the all-wheel drive system.
It may also indicate overheating of the cross-axle differential or oil in it.
4 Wheel Active Steer - the active steering system is faulty. As a rule, it lights up while the engine is running.
The active steering system does not work correctly or is out of order. This error can be caused by problems in the brake system, one of the engine or suspension systems.
On some vehicles with there is a function to start in high gear for driving on slippery roads. Activation of this function is accompanied by the appearance of this icon on the dashboard.
Continuously Variable Transmission - the variator is working. When the ignition is turned on, the indicator lights up for a few seconds on the tidy and then goes out.
Variable Gear Ratio Steering gear ratio defective, needs repair.
Indicators of the driving mode switching system "SPORT", "POWER", "COMFORT", "SNOW" (Electronic Throttle Control System - ETCS, Electronically Controlled Transmission - ECT, Elektronische Motorleistungsregelung, Electronic Throttle Control). Change the settings of the suspension, automatic transmission and engine.
In the 21st century, cars are stuffed with electronics and can inform the car enthusiast about any malfunction. Electronics will help to identify almost any problem associated with technical part. With the help of various indicators, the car will report a malfunction at an early stage, which will help to fix it before it breaks down completely.
Let's look at: when and why the engine malfunction indicator lights up, how to remove it, and why you need to fix the breakdown as soon as possible.
Various Check Engine Indicators
CHECK ENGINE - what does it mean
Motorists know that the indicator yellow light on the dashboard, this is the “Check engine”. It lights up for a few seconds when you start the car and immediately goes out, this is a test of the electronic diagnostic system for operability. But if the check engine light comes on or does not light up at all, then you should not panic. IN this case, you need to immediately contact the service, or try to scan the error yourself, diagnose, and then solve the problem and erase the error. This signaling device can mean almost everything: on cars of the 90s, he talked about carburetor malfunctions, on modern injection cars the range of his work has increased significantly. Now the “check engine” notifies not only about problems with the air-fuel mixture entering the CPG, but also about problems with ignition, various sensors, if the automatic transmission does not work correctly, etc. Almost all elements modern internal combustion engine are under control electronic systems. Very often, the check lights up due to the quality of gasoline. The problem is that due to bad fuel, deposits and carbon deposits form on the candles, as a result of which sparking worsens and the car starts to run unevenly, and detonation may become more frequent due to carbon deposits in the combustion chamber. This can happen with both old and new cars, unfortunately no one is immune from this.
To fix the problem, just fill in quality gasoline or diesel fuel and drive a few kilometers, then the lamp will go out by itself. But in some cases, you will have to replace the filter element and flush the entire system from low-quality fuel.
There are other malfunctions due to which the check is on, for example, a burned-out catalyst or a lambda probe gives incorrect readings, even the “check engine” will notify you about problems with the injectors. If the indicator lights up, then start with a visual inspection, such as unscrewing the candles, checking the oil, etc. liquids, try disconnecting the terminal from the battery for 30-50 seconds, and then put it back in place, in a situation where the inspection did not give anything, it is recommended to contact specialists who, having connected diagnostic cable instantly recognize the problem, this is the convenience of modern cars.
Diagnostics using specialized equipment costs about 1000-1500 rubles and accurately indicates a breakdown. It also happens that there is a common failure in the electronics, in which case the master will simply reset the errors, and the check will go out. In any case, do not neglect this indicator, it will help you cure the malfunction at the initial stage and save you money.
TOP 10 Causes of CHECK ENGINE Error
1) Poor fuel quality or a loose fuel tank cap
most common cause associated with the appearance of the CHECK ENGENE error is a fuel quality problem, to solve it, it is recommended to refuel with high-octane fuel at a proven gas station, and you should also check the tightness of the fuel cap.
2) Damage to the sensors responsible for mixture formation (DMRV, TPS, IAC, MAF)
If one of these sensors breaks, you will understand this by the behavior of the car. It will either just not start, or it will work very unstable. In a modern car, it is quite difficult to identify a broken sensor, but diagnostics at the service station will help you, the master will quickly identify and solve the problem, basically everything is done by replacing the faulty sensor.
3) Ignition system malfunctions, misfiring (spark plugs, high voltage wires, ignition modules)
If you notice that your engine has stalled, then one of the problems may be misfiring, this may be due to both candles and ignition modules, while diagnostics show an error. It is worth starting with checking the candles and armored wires, if this does not help, it is better to contact the service station, because the car can trip not only because of problems associated with the ignition of the mixture.
4) Oil level
It is worth checking the amount of oil with a dipstick, where could it have disappeared?
A lot of options: oil seals, violation of the integrity of the pallet, problems with oil scraper rings and caps. Having found out the reason for its disappearance, you can quickly eliminate the defect, add oil and continue driving. It is impossible to operate a car without oil, even if there is no lubrication, you will have to get to the nearest service station by tow truck.
5) Air leak (various vacuum hoses, manifold gaskets)
It is not easy to detect air leakage, motorists are advised to spray wd-40 or soapy water on the joints of hoses and manifolds, if the speed increases or vice versa, then the problem is identified - this is air leakage. Removing it is easy enough with my own hands, you need to replace the gasket or hose.
6) Problems associated with the flow of fuel (gasoline pump, fuel filter, RTD)
This problem is diagnosed instantly, you just need to check the pressure in fuel rail. normal pressure for petrol cars is 2.3 kgf/cm2. If the pressure is low, it is worth checking the fuel pressure regulator. If you haven't changed in a long time fuel filter, then it is worth replacing it, as well as checking the fuel pump for extraneous sounds.
7) Clogged nozzles
Symptoms of dirty injectors are very often similar to problems with a gasoline pump and fuel pressure. The engine runs unevenly, increased vibrations are observed, and detonation may occur in some operating modes. The solution to the problem is cleaning the nozzles or replacing them. All this can be done both with your own hands and in the service station.
8) Faulty lambda probe
Only diagnostics and reading error codes will help you diagnose the breakdown of this node. Unfortunately, there is no way to repair the lambda. The problem is treated only by replacing the oxygen sensor. It is better to replace it as soon as possible, because fuel consumption with faulty lambda increases by about 30%.
9) Problems with power supply (generator, relay regulator, open circuit)
This malfunction is usually manifested by the presence of two signaling lights: “check engine” and “battery light”. In order to check the alternator and relay regulator, it is enough to check the battery voltage with the car running, it should be about 13.8 volts.
10) ECU error
The problem may not exist at all. It's just that the electronic control unit has failed. In order to extinguish the light bulb, it is enough to remove the terminal from the battery for 30-50 seconds. If after that the light went out when the car was started, then there is no reason to panic, just an ECU “Glitch” occurred.
Bad fuel is the main reason for the appearance of this indicator on the dashboard
Resetting or resetting the CHECK ENGINE error
Majority budget cars have a primitive ecu and to remove errors you need to do a few simple steps:
- Warm up the car to a temperature of about 90 degrees;
- Remove the terminal from the battery for 1-2 minutes;
- You can then start the engine as usual.
Such actions will help reset the ECU errors. Resetting causes the light to no longer alarm you after starting the engine. This method will help to remove the error if it was caused by the operation of the engine with faulty sensor, or with the sensor disabled, but if the problem persists, then this way won't do any good.
If the error cannot be removed by removing the battery terminal, then you can use a professional diagnostic scanner and remove errors programmatically. This method is suitable for those who, after fixing the breakdown, the error has not stopped burning. To do this, you need to connect the diagnostic equipment to a special connector located in the car. Motorists prefer to contact the service station to implement this method, where they can print out all engine errors and clearly explain to the motorist the list of necessary repairs.
Also, cars after 2000 have a universal OBD2 diagnostic connector. In specialized stores, you can purchase a universal scanner that connects to a phone with via Bluetooth. It will also help diagnose the problem and has an error reset function. This device costs from 500 rubles and is affordable for every motorist, I consider it a necessary item for any car owner.
Operating rules when the engine error light is on
Using a car with the CHECK ENGINE indicator on will not lead to anything good, I may reveal a secret, for some cars not only the error is recorded, but also the distance traveled with this problem, so if you drive for a long time with a burning check, the dealer may break the warranty obligations.
The first step is to try to reset the computer yourself, maybe you filled poor quality fuel or you just had a “Glitch”, if after resetting the signaling device went out, then you can safely continue to move.
Then you need to independently check all the connectors and the oil level, if your level of training does not allow you to do all the steps described above, then if the oil level is normal, you can safely drive to the nearest service station or dealer, the main thing is not to do sharp accelerations and do not give the engine high loads in the form of high speeds.
- The oil level is below normal - you should use the services of a tow truck, or ride a cable to the nearest service center, it is imperative not only to throw off errors, but also to eliminate the cause of the problem;
- You are ready to do the steps described above - try all the options described in the article, you may be able to fix the problem yourself, this will deprive you of unnecessary costs for service stations.
Panic when you see Check errors Engine is not worth it, very often this light comes on due to trifling problems. Try to perform the first steps described above, if they did not help, but the engine power and traction have not changed, try to drive to the nearest service station on your own and solve the problem, some cars also have a self-diagnosis function, error codes can be found on the Internet.
If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.
If the "Check Engine" light is on...
Many car owners know that modern machines On the instrument panel there is a yellow light "check engine" - which means "check the engine". It signals that the control unit has detected some kind of malfunction.
When you start the car, it is normal for the warning light to come on first and then turn off immediately after starting. But if the light bulb starts bothering you while driving, this is the first signal to act.
This signal is the most misunderstood, as it can mean many different things: from the loss of a gas tank cap to serious problems with engine.
Many drivers encountered a similar problem while driving and did not know what to do. Of course, you shouldn't given signal park at the curb and call an oncoming truck for help. The simplest solution is, of course, contacting the service. However, let's try to figure out what this signal can mean?
Since the beginning of the eighties, cars began to be equipped with microcomputers, which initially controlled carburetors, and then their use expanded significantly. Now control units control not only the composition of the mixture, but also engine speed, ignition timing, as well as many other parameters up to the moment of gear shifting in automatic transmissions. Thus, there can be many reasons.
If you are the owner of a new car and your "engine" light comes on, while the car is functioning normally, then this is most likely due to a misfire in one of the candles. This malfunction is very common in Ukraine, as the quality of gasoline leaves much to be desired.
So, recently a friend called me and said that his new Hyundai Accent lit "check engine". I assumed it might be misfiring as it only fills up with 95 petrol. As you know, we have this "high-octane" fuel.
Obtained from 92 by adding additives containing lead and manganese. Next, we unscrewed the candles, and all my assumptions were confirmed: there was a uniform red soot on the candles, which indicates manganese. The recommendation was the simplest - change the candles and do not fill in 95 gasoline. By the way, the car passed only 8500 thousand kilometers, and the replacement of candles is provided for by MOT only at 20 thousand. After replacing the candles, the light went out safely and no longer bothered with its yellow light.
The above story is the simplest case in which the problem is fixed, as they say, " little blood".
Other cases are more difficult: a "dead" catalyst, a loose timing belt, clogged nozzles. Very rarely - the control unit itself, since this is a very expensive unit, and it is made with a large safety factor.
If visual inspection, like twisting candles, did not give results, the surest method would be to contact the service. Any electrician who connects the diagnostic connector to the control unit will indicate a malfunction within a few minutes. In this sense electronic blocks very convenient, as he himself indicates a breakdown, and there is no need to dismantle the floor of the car in search of it.
What to do if such a malfunction occurs? Stop as soon as possible, then check the oil level. Listen, does the engine make any extraneous sounds, is there any visual damage? If everything is normal, move to the nearest service, without giving the engine a high speed.
With the end of an era carburetor systems preparation of the fuel mixture, their place was taken by electronic fuel injection systems. The widespread introduction of electronics into vehicle systems was accompanied by the advent of a large number various sensors, electromechanical executive mechanisms and more complex vehicle wiring. All this economy is managed by specialized electronic modules such as engine control module (ECU), transmission control module (TCU), on-board electronics control module (BCM), etc.
In this regard, automakers began to equip cars with additional built-in diagnostic systems. Turning on the ignition, the driver of a modern car, in addition to the traditional control indicators “battery”, “oiler”, etc., will see a number of indicators on the dashboard related to monitoring the health of the main vehicle systems.
What does the "Check Engine" indicator mean?
On the instrument panel of the car electronic injection fuel, in without fail there is an indicator in the form of a stylized engine. It is designed to monitor the health of engine management systems. In the English version, this indicator is called “CheckEngine”, which means “check the engine”. For brevity, the abbreviation "CE" for this indicator will be used throughout the text.
Based on the author's own observations, some drivers perceive the CE indicator on the panel to be fatal to the engine and are afraid to continue further movement. Let's look at how serious malfunctions causes the light to come on and whether the vehicle can continue to be driven with the CE light on.
The main reasons for turning on the "CheckEngine" indicator.
Electronic control unit engine ECU based on the algorithm embedded in it, it decides when and how much fuel to supply to the cylinders, when exactly to apply voltage to the spark plugs to ignite the fuel mixture, when to turn on the cooling system fan, etc. Accordingly, diagnostic tools for these engine systems are also built into the ECU. Let's take a quick look at what data sources are available for the built-in diagnostic system of a car engine.
Source 1. First of all, the evidence of a malfunction of the engine is the deviation of its operating parameters from allowed values. In a car, various sensors are the main source of such data. If any of the sensors shows a deviation of the controlled parameter from the norm (for example, exceeding the permissible temperature of the coolant), then the diagnostic system interprets this deviation as a malfunction in the engine, remembers which sensor recorded the deviation from the norm, stores the corresponding error code in memory and turns on CE indicator. The same group of malfunctions can also include malfunctions of the sensors themselves.
fuel injection systems.
Source 2. The second source of data for troubleshooting is the vehicle's electrical wiring. The built-in diagnostic system detects breaks and short circuits in electrical circuits sensors and actuators, memorizing the corresponding error codes.
Source 3. Another source of diagnostic data can be calculated parameters calculated by the engine control unit. An example would be the health check catalytic converter exhaust gases. Two, installed before and after the converter, by the difference of the signals, allow us to draw a conclusion about the efficiency of the converter.
Thus, turning on the CE indicator only indicates to the driver that the diagnostic system has detected some deviation from normal operation engine, but this indicator itself is uninformative and does not allow you to find out exactly which of the engine control systems has failed. For more accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to read the error code from the ECU memory, which was saved by the diagnostic system. Specialized scanners are used to read error codes. They are connected to a regular car diagnostics block, which is found in almost every modern car.
Can be distinguished "Top 10" most common problems, leading to the inclusion of the CE indicator:
1) Failure of any sensor of the fuel mixture preparation system (mass air flow sensor, etc.).
2) Malfunctions of the ignition system, misfiring ( , high voltage wires, ignition modules).
3) Failure oxygen sensors release systems.
4) Decrease in efficiency (development of resource) of catalytic.
5) Air leakage through leaky gaskets and hoses at the inlet or outlet (gasket intake manifold, exhaust manifold gasket, air and vacuum hoses).
6) Opens and shorts in the wiring (for example, open or short wiring of sensors, power wiring fuel injectors, fuel pump).
7) Malfunction of the engine shaft position sensors (, camshaft position sensor).
8) Poor quality, increased engine detonation.
9) Malfunctions in the power supply system, increased or decreased voltage in the on-board network (generator malfunction).
10) Internal malfunctions of the engine control unit (failure of the unit's electronics).
How to turn off the Check Engine indicator.
If the diagnostic system has detected several problems at once, several corresponding error codes will be stored in the memory. The CE indicator will remain on as long as there are any error codes in the diagnostic system memory. After troubleshooting, these codes can be cleared using a scan tool. Also, in some cases, errors can be erased by simply de-energizing the car for a few minutes by disconnecting the battery.
Driver actions when the "CheckEngine" indicator is turned on.
Since there can be many reasons for turning on the CE indicator, the decision to continue driving should be made based on the severity of the malfunction. In the vast majority of cases, the CE indicator that lights up does not require an immediate cessation of movement. The manufacturer has put a rather high “survivability” into the engine management system, and even if some sensors fail, the engine will work, albeit not in the most optimal mode.
So, if on the road you see the CE indicator light on the instrument panel, do not panic. If the engine is still running stably, and the readings of other indicators and instruments do not show deviations from the norm, then it is quite easy to get to the place of diagnostics and repair. In this situation, the best option would be to have a diagnostic device in the car that will allow you to find out right on the spot which of the engine systems generated an error, what is the severity of this error and then make a decision whether to move on or still play it safe and call a tow truck.
