The Best Garage to Fix Check Engine Light Issues in Your BMW in Santa Barbara

24 Jan, 21

There are numerous issues that can arise under the hood of your vehicle, even in cars as reliable as BMW. Depending on which part needs maintenance, there could be underlying issues that may need to be addressed. Otherwise, your vehicle may develop a problem that will become detrimental to more important aspects of the car, such as the engine.

Should you notice your check engine light turn on, it’s important to take your vehicle into a shop as soon as possible. It’s best to also let a professional diagnose whatever the problem is, rather than attempt to solve it yourself. Your check engine light would not be on if there were no issues, so seeing this turn on should be cause for an immediate trip to a servicing shop.

How does the check engine light system work?

Your car is an intuitive piece of machinery that can often determine when something serious has occurred under the hood of the car. The brain of your vehicle is the computer that lays under the hood and monitors all aspects of your car at once.

This computer is connected to numerous sensors under the hood that tell the computer whatever information it needs to know. With that in mind, any problems with the sensors or the equipment they are monitoring will be detected by the computer and alerted via the check engine system.

It’s important to know that the check engine light could illuminate for many different reasons. So, manufacturers installed a method of knowing the severity of the reason. This method is whether or not the check engine light is flashing or solid.

If it is not flashing, your problem is not incredibly severe, but still warrants servicing. However if the check engine light is flashing, you need to take your car in right away or have it towed, as your vehicle has detected a serious issue.

Common Causes of Illumination of the Check Engine Light

As implied, the issues that cause the check engine light to turn on are numerous. Due to this, it can be difficult to identify the cause of the light turning on at any given time. Despite this, it is still worth noting some of the most common reasons for the check engine light to turn on.

• Faulty Oxygen Sensor: The oxygen sensor plays a key role under the hood of your car or, more accurately, in the back of your car. The oxygen sensor is responsible for measuring the oxygen levels in the exhaust of your car and ensures that the fumes emitted are safe and would pass an emissions test. Given this important job, the computer will turn on the check engine light if it detects any problems with the oxygen sensor.
• Spark Plug Issues: Spark plugs are extremely important, and they need to be replaced at the end of their lifecycle. This is part of proper vehicle maintenance. The spark plugs provide the spark that lights the air-to-fuel mixture. This allows the cylinders in your engine to fire. When these have a problem, your check engine light will turn on as they are necessary to the function of your engine.
• Problems With the Catalytic Converter: Your catalytic converter is responsible for removing the harmful fumes from the exhaust as it runs through the catalytic converter. This component is as important as the oxygen sensor, so any problems that emerge are immediately detected by the car’s computer and cause the check engine light to turn on.
• Loose Gas Cap: A loose gas cap is another common cause for the check engine light to turn on in your BMW, as it poses an unsafe danger to your car in a technical sense. Should the check engine light turn on, this can be tested by yourself.

Santa Barbara AutowerksFor Your BMW Needs

At Santa Barbara Autowerks, we understand what it takes to keep your BMW functioning at a high level that you have come to expect from your vehicle. We pride ourselves in providing excellent service to clients in and around Santa Barbara, CA. Please give us a call or schedule an appointment today. We look forward to earning your trust and business.