Your Corvette’s check engine light can be both a blessing and a curse. It’s a wonderful warning system that can help prevent further damage to your automobile by alerting you of trouble of which you might not otherwise be aware. It can also ruin your day, especially if it comes on yet everything seems okay. Rather than take chances, RB Auto Service recommends you bring your Corvette to us for a diagnostic check the minute your check engine light comes on. Here’s why.
Why the Check Engine Light Comes On
Unless a classic, your Corvette has a series of sensors that report back to an engine control module (ECM) that controls the operation of your automobile. The ECM will illuminate the check engine light if it receives a report from a system sensor that tells it something is malfunctioning. In some cases, the ECM can make adjustments that will solve the problem. If it can’t, however, it will turn on the check engine light, or the associated system light, to let you know something’s wrong.
Things That Cause a Check Engine Light Warning
The check engine light catches the problems that aren’t otherwise reported by another dashboard warning light. For example, if you have a problem with your braking system, your ABS or brake light will come on. If you have a problem with the exhaust system, there is no exhaust system light, so the check engine light will come on. Reasons why the check engine light comes on include
- Catalytic converter failure
- Electrical system failure
- Fuel system problems
- Mass airflow sensor failure
- Oxygen sensor failure
- Spark plug problems
- Transmission problems
These are just some of the reasons why the check engine light comes on. As you can see, these can be serious problems, which is why it’s a good idea to stop driving your Corvette and have it towed to an auto service shop. If you notice engine performance issues or strange sounds or smells alongside the check engine warning, definitely pull over and stop driving your car.
Diagnostic Tests to the Rescue
Diagnostic tests allow us to determine quickly why your check engine light is on. These tests talk to the ECM and it returns the error codes it received from the system sensors. This allows auto technicians to quickly isolate the problem and repair it. The code tells us exactly which part failed and why. Naturally, this saves you money on your Corvette’s auto repair bill. If we can find out right away why your check engine light came on, it saves diagnostic and repair time.
Stop by RB Auto Service in Pinellas Park, FL, if your check engine light has come on.
