why is your check engine light on?

For most people, vehicle emissions are not frequent topics of consideration. In many jurisdictions, vehicles are required to have their emissions tested on a regular basis, and as long as that test goes off without a hitch, you may not put further thought into what your car is putting into the atmosphere. If you fail the test, however, you might find yourself in need of a quick repair.

Below, you'll find a guide to some common car problems which may cause you to fail an emissions test. By having a better understanding of these concerns, you can be prepared for getting your vehicle ready to pass a test, and you can be confident that any small hiccups can be corrected in time to get you back on the road.

Bad Oxygen Sensor

In some cases, problems with your emissions system may not even be indicative of a problem with the emissions themselves. Indeed, modern vehicles are designed to detect potentially dangerous combinations and issue warnings, and if these sensors fail, you may receive spurious alerts.

The amount of oxygen in your vehicle's emissions is often times a warning sign that too much carbon dioxide is being produced, as oxygen is a component part of the gas. If your vehicle is showing excess CO2 readings, you may want to make sure your oxygen sensor is truly providing accurate information.

Rich Fuel Mixture

Internal combustion engines work by using liquid fuel in the form of gasoline to spark small, contained explosions which generate power through the engine. If your fuel mixture is too strong or contains too many byproducts, the gasses expelled by these explosions may be toxic and therefore illegal emissions.

Often times, this problem can be corrected by simply switching to a different blend of gasoline. Either a higher or lower octane fuel may be burned more efficiently by your particular vehicle, and a stubborn emissions problem can evaporate in an instant.

Failing Evaporation System

While it's impossible to prevent all gasoline fumes from escaping into the air, your vehicle's evaporation system is designed to minimize them by using a vacuum system to pump them out of your emissions. If the vacuum motor starts to fail or the associated hoses are damaged, you're likely to see an escape of gasoline fumes that results in a failed emissions test. If these are the fumes that cause test failures, be on the lookout for a fix that starts in your evaporation system.

Contact a mechanic, like Teloloapan  Muffler &  Brakes II Inc , for more help.