You are driving along and you hear a ding. A light catches your eye. You look down at your diesel truck’s dashboard and the check engine light has come on. The truck is running fine. Do you really need to worry about it? United Diesel Repair advises that you do for the following reasons.
Bad Catalytic Converter
Sometimes, the only sign that your catalytic converter is going bad is a check engine warning. In other cases, you may also notice a rotten egg smell in your diesel exhaust, and your engine may overheat. A rotten egg smell can also come from the engine bay when the catalytic converter is malfunctioning.
Faulty Mass Airflow Sensor
You might also end up with a check engine warning if your mass airflow (MAF) sensor is going bad. This is a common reason why the check engine light turns on. Other signs that you have a faulty MAF sensor include engine performance issues, reduced fuel economy, and engine power loss when under stress.
Faulty Oxygen Sensor
Another common reason why the check engine light comes on is a faulty oxygen (O2) sensor. The O2 sensor measures your vehicle’s exhaust oxygen levels. Aside from a check engine warning may also end up with excess black exhaust, a sputtering engine, or rough idling.
Fuel System Problem
If your diesel truck has a fuel system problem, the check engine light might come on. Fuel system problems include contaminated diesel fuel, clogged or leaking fuel injectors, and a loose fuel cap. Any of these things can trigger a check engine warning on your diesel truck’s dashboard.
Transmission Problems
If your diesel truck is experiencing problems with the transmission, you may end up with a check engine warning. Other signs that the transmission is in trouble include problems shifting through the gear cycle, problems getting your diesel truck into gear, leaking transmission fluid, and problems with the transmission slipping out of gear.
Vacuum Leak
An engine vacuum leak can also cause a check engine warning on the dashboard. Vacuum pressure can leak out of old vacuum hoses and cause an imbalance between the diesel fuel and air. When this happens, your RPMs may register too high, you may have problems with your vehicle’s acceleration and power, and you may hear suction noises coming from the engine.
United Diesel Repair in Flowery Branch, GA, is your one-stop shop for all of your diesel service and repair needs. We can diagnose the reason why the check engine light came on and fix it.
