Have you ever been driving down the road and all of a sudden your check engine light comes on? You immediately think, "Oh great! This is going to cost me a fortune." I am here to tell you that the repair may not be as expensive or complex as you think.

Of course the check engine light may mean a costly repair, but again, it's not always the case. You could however end up spending more than you have to, as was the case with my truck and I. Recently, I spent $120.00 to replace a simple part because I was worried about my check engine light. In reality I could have payed $20 for the NEW GAS CAP, however when I brought my truck to the shop I had to pay a diagnostic fee, labor, and for the part.

To Help You Avoid Having To Go Through What I Did, Here Are The Top 5 Most Common Reasons For Your Check Engine Light Being On:

  1. Loose or Damaged Fuel Cap. For a fix that costs $0.10 - $20 to fix yourself could cost you up to $120.00 as it did in my case. A good practice is to make sure the cap is tight and that the rubber on the cap is in good shape.
  2. Bad Spark Plug. A bad spark plug can be the cause of your check engine light turning on. It is generally a cheap repair, especially if you do it yourself. If you're not firing on all cylinders your fuel efficiency will suffer and your engine won't run like it's supposed and that can lead to worse problems.
  3. Bad Oxygen Sensor. The most common reason for a check engine light coming on is the need to replace your O2 Sensor. This can be a more costly repair up to $200, but it is necessary to prevent a 40% gas mileage reduction.
  4. Mass Air Flow Sensor. This repair, much like the O2 sensor, can be costly but is a gas saver. The repair typically costs around $375 but a bad MAF sensor can reduce your MPG by 10 to 25%.
  5. Catalytic Converter. Ah yes, the dreaded catalytic converter. Usually this repair isn't necessary unless there is a bad Spark Plug that goes without attention. This repair you won't to avoid at all cost due to the fact it costs $1,000 or more to fix. Moral of that story, don't let your spark plugs go bad.

So the next time your check engine light goes on, don't automatically panic. It may be you just need to tighten your gas cap. The main thing to remember is DON'T WAIT!!! The sooner you get it checked out, the more money you'll save. Whether it be at the pump or preventing the Catalytic Converter repair, the sooner the better.

[Source: CarMD]

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