Check engine light is one of the most feared things in the car community. And if you have a Chevrolet car, it is a very high probability that you will have a check engine light on. If you are curious about the general causes of the Chevrolet check engine light, you are at the right spot. Here, you can find teh moıst detaield informaiton about this issue. Also, we explain the general fixes that you can apply. And also you can gain information about the general costs of these fixes. Symptoms are also very important to think about the real cause of the problem in your car.
What are the Causes of Chevrolet Check Engine Light?
There can be various causes of the Chevrolet check engine light. Because the engine is a very complex system. And all the parks in an internal coöbustion engine generally viştal. So these problems can vary.
Oxygen Sensor Problems
One of the most common causes of the check engine light. The main duty of the oıxygen sensor is to provide information to the ECU system of your car about the amount of oxygen inside the exhaust fumes. This information gives an idea about how much fuel is combusted in the cylinder to the ECU. And ECU adjusts the optimum amount of fuel according to this feedback and the optimum burn of the fuel takes place inside the cylinders.
If the oxygen sensor does not work properly, your engine performance will be low. And you will feel it. Because ECU can not adjust the optimum amount of fuel to the engine. There will be a default amount of fuel that will be supplied.
Also, misfires can be another problem that you can face. Because of it, you will hear strange sounds coming from your engine.
General Fixes of Oxygen Sensor
The problem may not be the oxygen sensor itself. The problem can be the faulty cable connections coming to the oxygen sensor. The first cable connects the sensor to the battery for power. The second cable connects the sensor to the ECU system to send the information.
So if there is a problem with these cables, the oxygen sensıor of your Chebvtole engine will not work properly. You need to apply some important measurements.
Once you bring your car to the Chevrolet service, they can change this cable. One cable change can cost around $50-$75.
Also, the problem can be the oxygen sensor itself. One possible scenario is the carbon build-up on the oxygen sensor. In this case, the sensor can not sense the amount of oxygen in the environment. This is a very important problem that you need to consider.
Cleaning the Oxygen Sensor
You can clean the oxygen sensor if you are familiar with the car mechanics. You can follow these steps;
- First of all, you need to know the exact location of the oxygen sensor in your car. The place of oxygen sensor is generally right after the catalytic converter at the bottom of your car. And this sensor is generally fastened with basic fasteners.
- Before station to the process, you need to wear protective gloves and glasses. Safety is very important.
- You will need a hydraulic jack to lift the car, a screwdriver, and a wrench set.
- Lift the car with the hydraulic jack properly. Make sure that car is stable.
- After that locate the place of the oxygen sensor at the bottom of your car. And rip it off by using a wrench and screwdriver set.
- Rip off the cable connections carefully. There are two connections.
- And you can see the carbon buildup on the sensor. The blackish layer prevents the oxygen reading for the sensor. Clean this carbon buildup with a proper cleaner that you can find from auto stores. Apply the cleaner according to the instructions.
- And re-attach the oxygen sensor after cleaning and drying.
- Test your Chevrolet car if the check engine light goes off.
This will save you lots of amounts of money.
Also, your oxygen sensor can be completely faulty. In this case, you need to bring your car to service. In the service, they will change the oxygen sensor with a new one. The whole price will be around $250-$300 including the labor and expertise counts. And they will use an OEM part.
Problems with Catalytic Converters
Also if you are using a catalytic converter, you may have problems with it. The catalytic converter is a very important part of your car that reduces the toxicity of exhaust fumes. Sı it is very important for the envieronmöental and human health. If you have problems with the catalytic converter, the Chevrolet check engine light will be on.
There can be different problems with this part. The first problem is the damage. The catalytic converters can get damaged from the bottom side of the vehicle. And once they get damaged you will hear strange sounds coming from your exhaust system.
Also, your catalytic converter can be clogged. If it is clogged, expelling exhaust gases through very narrow channels will be very hard for the engine. So, the engine performance will reduce because of this problem. The most common cause of clogging is the carbon built up just like the oxygen sensors.
Fixes
If the catalytic converter is damaged, you need to change it with a new one. Catalytic converters have very complex and narrow channels and fixing these damaged channels is not possible most of the way.
Changing Catalytic Converter
If you are familiar with car mechanics, you can change it on your own.
- The place of the catalytic converter is at the bottom of your vehicle. The shape of it is semi-cylinder right after the tailpipe of your car.
- After locating the place of the catalytic converter you will need a hydraulic jack and a wrench set to rip it off.
- Catalytic converters are generally fastened with very basic wrench and strap systems. You need to use a wrench to rip it.
- Before doing that we need to remind you to take the same safety precautions that we stated above.
- After that, rip the catalytic converter off. Then attach the new catalytic converter. Make sure that you bought OEM and the same part.
- And drive your car for several miles to see if the Chevrolet check engine light went off.
Also, you can bring your car to a Chevrolet service. The OEM catalytic converters will charge between $300-$400. And the operational costs will be around $100.
Also, if the catalytic converter of your car is clogged, you can clean it yourself. Some solutions clean the carbon built up just like in the case of oxygen sensors. You can use these solutions. And make sure that you comply with the instructions.
Mass Air Flow Sensor Problems
Another common reason for the Chevrolet check eğngine light problem is the mass air flow sensor problems. The general symptoms and causes of the mass air flow sensor are generally the same as the oxygen sensor.
The main duty of the mass air flow sensor is to send information to the ECU system about the total mass air coming to the intake manifold. So, the ECU adjusts the best amount of fuel for the optimum ignition inside the engine cylinders.
Fixing
All the labor costs and OEM mass air flow sensor prices are the same as the oxygen sensoırs. But there will be a professional requirement to change the mass air flow sensor in general. And in most cases, you can not do it on your own.
Loose Gas Cap
Also, this is the most basic and very common reason why the Chevrolet check engine light is on. If the gas cap of your Chevrolet car is loose, the check eğngine light will be on. What you need to do is, just tighten the cap and control if the check engine light went off.
Also, you can make a little joke to your loved ones J Loosen the gas cap of the Chevrolet cars that they have. And they will see a check engine light on their dashboards. But do not hold the joke for too long J
Problems with Electrical Systems
Without the proper electrical system, the car engine will not work properly. The general parts of electrical parts are the spark plugs, distributor, and battery. A low battery can cause the Chevrolet check engine problem.
Also, the park plugs must provide an electrical spark to ignite the air-fuel mixture inside the engine cylinders. And if there is a problem with the spark plugs, the air-fuel mixture inside the engine cylinders will not be sparked. And these cylinders will not work.
If there is a problem with eh individual spark plug in one or two engines, you will feel it as engine performance and power loss. And if all the spark plugs are not working, the engine will not work. This means there is a problem with the distributor.
If your battery is low or dead, your engine will not work. The most common reason for this dead battery is that you keep your can lamps open for long hours. Ar the alternator is not working which is responsible for the caring the battery.
Fixes of Electrical Problems Chevrolet Cars Have
So, there can be different kinds of problems appearing in the electrical systems of Chevrolet cars. You need to apply different kinds of thişngs to overcome these situations.
First of all, the problem can be the damaged cable connections between the spark plugs and the battery. As we stated above the cable change will be around $50-$75.
Also changing a spark plug will be around $150, including the labor and expertise costs. Cleaning the faulty spark plug can be the solution also. Because the carbon buildup problem is also a very common problem that we have.
If there is a problem ith the alternator or distributor, the fixing prices can be up to $1000. Because they are the complex and main parts and OEM parts are generally high in price. Also, the labor costs and expertise costs are higher fo these parts.
Problems with Aftermarket Parts
If you are using aftermarket parts in your Chevrolet engine, these worst can be the problematic parts that give you the Chevrolet check engine light. This is a very important thing that you need to consider in general.
Yes, aftermarket parts are much lower in price if we compare them with the other OEM parts. But there can be a very high discrepancy between the original parts of Chevrolet and the aftermarket parts.
We recommend you use the aftermarket parts as a temporary solution. And you need to change them with the original parts immediately.
Vacuum Hoses Problems
Fuel leaks on the vacuum hoses or damaged vacuum systems can cause ethe Chevrolet check engine light. To prevent this problem, you need to change the vacuum hoses with new ones. Th general prices may vary according to which fuel system is faulty in the engine.
Last Words on Chevrolet Check Engine Light
As you see above there can be different reasons oıf the Chevrolet check engine light. And we explain them in detail. We recommend that you ned to bring your car to Chevrolet service immediately if you are seeing a check engine light. The diagnosis will be around $50. Because they are attachşng a special device to your car’s ECU to see the exact problem part in your car.
And you can decide to solve the problem on your own or the service. And also if the check engine light is blinking, you need to immediately pulloıver the car and call a tow. So, tow your car to a Chevrolet service. Because blinking light means you have a major problem with your engine.
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