One Check Engine light, 1,400 reasons

Your car’s “Check Engine” or “Service Engine Soon” light can flash on for more than 1,400 different reasons, and in the coming months, we’re going to share with you what some of those reasons are. The light is part of your vehicle’s on-board diagnostics (OBD) system and can indicate anything from a quick fix like a loose gas cap to a major repair like a catalytic converter.

Trouble code: P0300

One code that can set the onboard computer off is P0300, random misfire, which means the car’s computer has detected that not all of the engine’s cylinders are firing the way they should be. If this is a problem, the engine might be harder to start or might stumble and/or hesitate. Of all the reasons your Check Engine light can come on, this is one of the more serious ones. Imagine the literal equivalent of, “not firing on all cylinders.”

A code P0300 may mean that your vehicle is experiencing one or more of the following:

• Faulty spark plugs or wires
• Faulty coil (pack)
• Faulty oxygen sensor(s)
• Faulty fuel injector(s)
• Burned exhaust valve
• Faulty catalytic converter(s)
• Stuck/blocked EGR valve / passages
• Faulty camshaft position sensor
• Defective computer

To properly diagnose a Check Engine light, bring your car to Hong Kong Auto Service, where one of our ASE-Certified Technicians will connect the system to a diagnostic scan tool. He’ll retrieve a code (or codes) telling him which system is calling for help, and then he can perform pinpoint testing to determine exactly what’s going on. Depending on the issue, addressing the challenge right away can save big bucks down the road.

If your Check Engine light goes on, schedule an appointment today or call 847-251-0300. We’ll help you figure it out!