Common questions

When to worry about a check engine light?

When to worry about a check engine light?

A sudden drop in power is much more noticeable and could be accompanied by a check engine light. If your engine seems like it is running okay but is just low on power you are in the right place, but if your engine is misfiring and running rough then you have a different problem that is causing the low power issue.

How can you tell when your car is losing power?

When an engine has gradual power lose it can be harder to detect as the normality of the lack of power becomes commonplace. A sudden drop in power is much more noticeable and could be accompanied by a check engine light.

Why does my car have a low engine power warning?

This mode is designed to reduce engine power as a protective measure for the engine as well as the emission system. Anytime you see this warning light on you must read the codes and make repairs to clear said codes. Once this repair is complete, erase the computer codes to restore engine power which will improve drivability. Watch the Video!

Why does the reduced engine power light come on?

This is one of the most common reasons the reduced engine power light comes on. If the ECU isn’t getting the proper voltage response from the throttle body, it can’t be sure of how much it’ll really accelerate your Colorado from the gas pedal input.

What does service engine soon light mean on Chevy S10?

Your Chevy S10’s service engine soon light is there to let you know that some sort of problem has been detected with the vehicle. Any vehicles made in 1996 or newer use OBDII codes, which can easily be retrieved from a good code scanner. A flashing service engine soon light is telling you that something needs immediate attention.

What does the service engine soon light mean?

A flashing service engine soon light is telling you that something needs immediate attention. If your service engine soon light is on, you’ll need to pull these trouble codes to see what is wrong with your S10.

Why does my Check Engine Light never come on?

The C/K line includes pickup trucks, medium-duty, and heavy trucks. When I turn the ignition on, all of the lights on the dash turn on and then go off. But the check engine light never turns on. How do I make it come on?

What does a service engine soon light mean?

The check engine or service engine soon light is telling you there is a problem with one of the sensors or systems that support the engine which can make the car go into “limp mode”. This mode is designed to reduce engine power as a protective measure for the engine as well as the emission system.

How can I tell if my Silverado has no power?

Another way is to pull out an 02 sensor before the cat and hook up a pressure gauge to the 02 bung. Normal pressure is around 4-5lbs with a stock exhaust system. Do the same rpm tests as the vacuum gauge. Again, if the pressure rises dramatically at the higher rpm’s the cat is clogged.

What to do if check engine light is on but no code?

Check the make and model of your reader to see what it is built for and if all else fails, head into a parts store and they should be able to read the issue at no cost to you. No code being generated on the reader does not mean the driver is in the clear.

Another way is to pull out an 02 sensor before the cat and hook up a pressure gauge to the 02 bung. Normal pressure is around 4-5lbs with a stock exhaust system. Do the same rpm tests as the vacuum gauge. Again, if the pressure rises dramatically at the higher rpm’s the cat is clogged.

What does no power, won’t Rev mean?

In OD at 55 mph (engine speed below 2000), it runs smoothly but has no power to run up hill or into a head wind. IT WILL NOT THROW A CODE!!!! As a shot in the dark, I changed the knock sensor (cause it was cheap), no difference.

Why is my engine light not working on my Chevy Tahoe?

This issue is related to the throttle position sensor, and can be caused by faulty wiring to the TPS, bad connection at the TPS, or a failed TPS. To correct this issue, the wiring harness, connector, and throttle position sensor must be inspected, tested, and/or replaced.

What does reduced engine power and check engine light mean?

This worked for some time. Then my traction light would come on and reduced engine power and check engine light would come on. I could pull over shut off my vehicle and turn it back on and the traction light was off and it would run fine. The check engine light would go off shortly after.

What to do if your car has low engine power?

If you notice sluggish acceleration right after some work was done on your car, make sure that everything was connected back properly. Check for loose hoses, unplugged electrical connectors, and loose bolts, and if fluids were changed, look to see whether the right engine or transmission oil was used. Check your tires’ inflation pressure.

Why does the Check Engine light illuminate?

The Check Engine Light may illuminate because the mass air flow sensor sends incorrect information to the engine control computer. This can cause a loss of power on acceleration. A failed mass air flow sensor will require replacement.

What to do if there is no check engine light?

NO Check Engine Light! – YouTube If playback doesn’t begin shortly, try restarting your device. Videos you watch may be added to the TV’s watch history and influence TV recommendations. To avoid this, cancel and sign in to YouTube on your computer. An error occurred. Please try again later.

How can you tell if your car has low engine power?

Check your tires’ inflation pressure. If underinflated, your tires will drag on the road. Check inflation pressure with a tire pressure gauge when the tires are cold. Inflate tires 1 to 3 psi below the maximum pressure marked on the sidewall of your tires. Even if the check engine light (CEL) hasn’t come on, scan your computer.

What to do when your engine is sluggish?

What You Can Do: When you feel your engine sluggish, one of your first checks should be to inspect the spark’s strength. Use an adjustable spark tester ( Thexton is an acceptable brand) to check the spark’s health. Check at 40KV and 30KV.

Why is my car engine not producing power?

Internal mechanical failures can cause an engine to not produce power as well such as worn out piston rings and a timing chain or belt that has jumped a tooth. How Much Does It Cost? The cost for low engine power will depend on what is found after a list of troubleshooting check points have been performed.

What should I do if my car engine is not working?

Modern cars have great monitoring for all the different car sensors on the engine. If one sensor has failed or if one sensor picks up that something is not quite right with the engine, it will send the information to the engine control unit. When the engine control unit receives the data, it will decide if the problem is serious or not.

Why are there so many problems with diesel engines?

Light fuels, e.g., petrol or ethanol hardly become contaminated, but on the other hand, a diesel because being more viscous easily becomes contaminate and causes problems in diesel engines.

What causes the Check Engine light to stop working?

The main cause of failure is related to other items on this list, including a broken oxygen sensor or deteriorated spark plugs (we’ll get to those in a second). When it fails, it stops converting carbon monoxide into less harmful emissions. If your catalytic convertor fails completely, you eventually won’t be able to keep the car running.

What should I do if my electric motor is not working?

If a device—say, an electric motor—isn’t working, first determine if voltage is reaching it when the switch that powers the device is turned on.

Is there an easy way to troubleshoot an electrical problem?

There is an easy, straightforward way to approach electrical troubleshooting, and it’s astonishing how many people don’t know it.

Check your tires’ inflation pressure. If underinflated, your tires will drag on the road. Check inflation pressure with a tire pressure gauge when the tires are cold. Inflate tires 1 to 3 psi below the maximum pressure marked on the sidewall of your tires. Even if the check engine light (CEL) hasn’t come on, scan your computer.

What does the reduced engine power warning light mean?

Many GM vehicle models come equipped with a Reduced Engine Power (REP) warning light, similar to the Check Engine Light (CEL). When this light (or both lights) comes on, you’ll notice the engine barely responding to the accelerator.

How to reset the ” Check Engine ” light?

4 Ways to Reset the “Check Engine” Light Method Tools Required 1. Drive your car and let light go off b None 2. Turn the engine on and off three time None 3. Disconnect and reconnect the battery. Wrench 4. Use an OBD code reader. Wrench and OBD reader

What makes the reduced engine power light to come on?

The reduced engine power light comes on when the vehicle’s computer detects a fault in any of the systems that allow the engine to run optimally, such as airflow sensors, throttle sensors and oxygen sensors. This light isn’t found in all vehicles out there, nor is it always a light in the vehicles that do have this warning mechanism.

Is check engine light serious?

The check engine light may stay on steadily or it may flash when the vehicle is accelerated. This is very serious. There is a severe failure of the emission control system that is causing the engine to misfire to the point that the catalytic converter is damaged each time the check engine light flashes.

What does reduce engine power light mean?

The Reduced Power light is designed to gleam up when your car’s computer spots a flaw (a fault) in the engine that influences its capability to drive, perform well, transmit or emit the systems it is supposed to do. These conditions will trigger the Reduced Power light to brighten up to warn you that something is terribly wrong.

What causes reduced engine power?

Throttle body: The throttle body and wiring/connection to it are most common causes for reduced engine power. Check the wiring and connections to the throttle body for damage, spread-out terminals in the connectors or damaged terminals.

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Ruth Doyle