Understanding The Check Engine Light

On all modern vehicles there is a computer that controls the way the engine operates, this computer is called Electronic Control Module, or ECM. The purpose of the ECM is to maintain the engine running within emissions limits and at top efficiency. With the very strict emission regulations of today, this is not an easy task to achieve. Precise and constant adjustments to match various conditions of the engine must be made by the ECM in regards to speed, load, engine temperature and others.
How the ECM works:
A number of sensors are available that provide the ECM with the information it needs, such inputs are engine and ambient temperature, vehicle speed and load. The ECM makes adjustments by advancing or retarding the ignition timing, adds or subtracts fuel or increases and decreases the idle speed.
In the exhaust, before the catalytic converter, an oxygen sensor monitors the quality of the combustion produced in the cylinders. The sensor produces a feedback that is then used by the ECM to make fine adjustments to the fuel-air mixture with the objective to reduce emissions. After the catalytic converter, another sensor in the exhaust monitors it’s efficiency
Other additional emission control systems exist, such as the Evaporative System, or EVAP. The objective of EVAP is to prevent vapors of gasoline, from the gas tank, from being released into the atmosphere. There are also a number of sensors and actuators that are controlled by the ECM.
The operation of sensors and other engine components is constantly tested by the self-diagnostic capability of the ECM. If one of the signals is missing or if it’s not in the normal range then the Check Engine light is illuminated and the Diagnostic Trouble Code, DTC, is stored in the memory of the ECM. The Check Engine light will be illuminated also if a mechanical component, such as the EGR valve, fails.
With a special scan tool, the stored code can be retrieved by a technician, that will then know only a direction where to look for. The code doesn’t tell specific information about the failure, certain tests have to be performed for each code, in order to find the exact cause of the problem.
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Basic Maintenance That Can Make Your Car Last Longer

The future in uncertain, which means most of us are trying to save every buck we can. When it comes to your car, doing some basic maintenance can make it last an incredibly long time. The longer your car last, the longer it will be before you have to spend money on a new one.

Ask anyone about what car maintenance should be done and they will usually blurt out, “Change the oil every 3,000 miles”. Somewhere, a marketing professional is smiling happily. Yes, you should change the oil regularly, but not this often. Even so, there are other steps you can take that will make a world of difference for your car.

Okay, let’s start with oil. The 3,000 mile recommendation is a marketing slogan, not a fact. Oil has become very sophisticated and will usually last 5,000 miles without any problems unless you are putting it under major stress. An even better move is to switch to a synthetic oil like Mobil One. These always will last much longer, often 10,000 miles or more. You can pull up recommendations for your car online. Most manufacturers offer them.

A second critical maintenance step to your car has to do with breathing. Air is a critical part to the combustion process. You need gas. You need a spark. You need air. The air comes into the engine through an air filter. Your engine can start to starve for air if you don’t change out your oil filter. This makes the engine run poorly and puts stress on the system. Stress is bad for a car. Change your air filter every 10,000 miles.

Ask yourself a simple question: Is it good for a machine to run hot? The answer is nearly always that it is not. Most people understand this, yet they also never take any steps to do upkeep on the coolant system of their car. If you want to kill an engine well before its normal lifespan, just neglect the coolant system.

It is important to understand that oil is meant to lubricate, not cool an engine. Your radiator and coolant system is just as important as keeping your oil up. Make sure to adjust your coolant system at the beginning of each summer and winter. When you do, make sure to check the hoses and such so you’ll know if it is performing right. If your car tends to run hot, you should have the thermometer in the coolant system checked.

There you are. Three basic maintenance steps. If you stay on top of them, you are nearly guaranteed to have a car that is going to last a very long time. These days, that counts as money in the bank.
Write By : Dirk Gibson