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Check Engine light possible causes explored

When the dreaded Check Engine light comes on, it could be for several causes, potentially expensive, and important to repair.

One culprit is the oxygen sensor. A bad sensor can cause rough idling, poor acceleration, and engine misfires. The longer you drive with one, the worse the damage. It will cost about $300 to replace and you'll probably have to do it every 50,000 miles.


Another cause of rough idling and vibration: bad ignition coils and spark plugs. They may cause stalls and it may be more difficult to start the engine. On the high end, replacing them will be about $500.

Your Check Engine light may also be signaling a bad fuel injector, which could cause misfiring, stalling, and rough idling. You don't want to ignore this repair, which usually tops $400, partly because it can harm the catalytic converter. Break that thing and you'll pay about $1300 to replace it.

On the other hand, the Check Engine light could just be nagging you about a loose fuel tank cap. It will be a sweet $30 to replace it. Always check first to see if the cap is loose or missing when you see the warning light.

Another common cause: the thermostat. Designed to last 10 years or 100,000 miles, a faulty thermostat can cause overheating, noises, and coolant leaks. It will cost about $400 to replace one.


This story was posted on 2024-10-27 23:13:26
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