Check Engine Light Diagnostics at Fort Washington Auto & Tire Center

Getting to the Bottom of that Check Engine Light on Your Dashboard

The Dreaded Check Engine Light and Why It Matters

You’re cruising down the road, not a care in the world when a new light on your dashboard catches your attention: it’s the dreaded check engine light (CEL), and it means something is not right with your vehicle. While it might be tempting to ignore it and keep on driving, that flashing check engine light requires a trip to us at Fort Washington Auto & Tire Center for diagnostics, and soon! While it might be a minor repair, that malfunctioning indicator lamp (MIL) can also mean something seriously wrong with your vehicle. Your check engine light is connected to numerous sensors in your vehicle that take readings from your engine, emissions, car computer, and more. Getting it checked out promptly could save you from being stranded, or from an expensive repair!

Reasons Your Check Engine Light Could Be On

So you’ve decided to bring your car/truck/SUV down to the Fort Washington Auto & Tire Center for a check engine light diagnostic service. You’re on the right track now. While a variety of issues can trigger a check engine light, here are a few of the most common, all easily addressable by our talented and experienced team of service technicians:

Faulty Oxygen (O2) Sensor – responsible for the fuel trim delivered to your engine, can negatively impact performance and emissions

Faulty Mass Airflow Sensor – related to the O2 sensor determines how much fuel to deliver for proper ratio, can negatively impact performance

Vacuum Leak – Too much air is getting into the fuel mix, impacting fuel economy and performance

Catalytic Converter Failure – Your vehicle is no longer filtering out sufficient harmful exhaust gases

Emissions Component Failure – An issue with one of the components responsible for properly filtering out harmful exhaust gases.

While these issues vary in seriousness, all will immediately impact the performance of your vehicle, and can potentially lead to costly and extensive repairs down the road. Our team will run through the diagnostics system and pinpoint the fault code, then get to work on addressing the issue before a minor repair becomes major.

You’re in Trusted Hands to Get that Light Off and On Your Way

At Fort Washington Auto & Tire Center, you’re always in honest and experienced hands. We’ll work with you and your budget to get your car restored to running order and get that frightening dashboard light off and you on your way. Open six days a week, Monday to Friday 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, and Saturday from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, walk-ins welcome, our ASE-certified mechanics deliver consistently skilled and prompt quality service, at a competitive price. Bring your car by today or call (301) 292-5580 to schedule a service appointment today. You and your vehicle will be glad you did!