So your Check Engine Light is on? That’s no problem. We are honored to have a member of our staff who serves as the Designated Check Engine Light Expert, because of his near clairvoyance at troubleshooting and diagnosing concerns quickly.

The “Check Engine” Light is perhaps the most misunderstood vehicular indicator known to man. This is mostly because it could potentially be due to about 300 different concerns which range from a loose gas cap to a seriously misfiring engine. This little illuminated light doesn’t mean that you need to pull over and call a tow truck right away, but your car is basically letting you know that it needs some professional attention.

Take a quick break from your busy day and have Alvin work his magic to let you know if any immediate repairs are necessary.


Top 5 Reasons Your Check Engine Light May Be On

Your Gas Cap is loose, damaged or missing

Your gas cap seals the fuel system and helps maintain pressure within the fuel tank. It also prevents gasoline fumes (hydrocarbons) from being released into the atmosphere while you aren’t driving your car.

What if I don’t replace it: You will lose fuel through evaporation and you’ll probably make more trips to the gas pump

You Need to Replace Your Spark Plugs or Plug Wires

Your spark plugs ignite the air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber of your vehicle. The spark plug wires deliver the spark from the ignition coil to the spark plugs.

What if I don’t replace it? You will experience poor performance (reduced power, engine missing) and reduced fuel economy. Worn plugs or plug wires can cause clogged catalytic converter or damage to ignition coils and O2 sensor.

Mass Airflow Sensor needs replacing (MAF)

Your mass airflow sensor measures the amount of air entering the engine to determine how much fuel is needed to run your engine efficiently.

What if I don’t replace it? Faulty sensors can cause damage to spark plugs, O2 sensors or catalytic converter. You will most certainly experience reduced performance and fuel economy

Your Oxygen (O2) Sensor needs to be replaced

Your oxygen sensor measures the amount of unburned oxygen in your vehicle’s exhaust system.

What if I don’t replace it? Your engine will burn more fuel than needed. You will experience loss of fuel economy (up to 40% if ignored). Also, faulty sensor(s) can cause damage to your spark plugs and catalytic converter…the most expensive part of your exhaust system.

You Need to Replace Your Catalytic Converter

Your catalytic converter helps protect our environment by converting harmful carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide. Damage usually occurs due to neglected maintenance (reasons # 1, 4, and 5).

What if I don’t replace it?  You will experience reduced performance and fuel economy. Your car may run at a higher temperature


If your Check Engine Light is on, stop by or give us a call so we can get to the bottom of the situation and avoid costly repairs down the road!

Don’t make the mistake that we’ve seen countless others make in our 20 years of service! Whereas this little nagging light doesn’t mean trouble right away, it could mean thousands of dollars in trouble if you ignore it. For a thorough breakdown of what you check engine light means, check out this article we found on Consumer Reports.

Granden Auto  is your complete automotive repair destination – just 10 minutes away from Red Deer in downtown Blackfalds.