What is Your Audi’s Check Engine Light Trying to Tell You?

When you are driving your car down the road, there’s nothing scarier than seeing that check engine light blink on. When it happens, you can already feel your wallet becoming lighter. A check engine light coming on could indicate a serious problems with one of the car parts, or it could indicate a minor issue like a loose cap for the fuel tank.

The check engine light always indicates there is some type of problem, though, and ignoring it is not an option. The next time you see this light come one, make sure you know how to deal with it.

A Preview of Problems a Check Engine Could be Warning of

The check engine light, formally called the Malfunction Indicator Lamp, or MIL, signals that a problem has occurred, and while your Audi mechanic can quickly inform you what Audi Parts or components might be malfunctioning. However, it often costs £75 just for a diagnosis. You can skip this step and preview the problem yourself first to determine if you can fix it with the right tools.

Inexpensive code readers are available that do-it-youselfers can connect to the onboard diagnostics port, or OBD. These ports are present in all vehicles that were manufactured after 1996. The code reader will present a code to the user, and the meaning of the code can be researched online to discover what it means.

CarMD, a company dedicated to providing information and help on vehicle health and maintenance to drivers all over the world, recently published a study indicating the most common problems your check engine light could be warning about:

• The O2 sensor needs replaced. These sensors are essential Audi parts as they help to monitor and alter the air-fuel mixture in the emissions system.
• The gas cap is loose.
• The catalytic converter needs to repaired or replaced. These failed car parts not only make the check engine light come on, but are also often accompanied by a foul, rotten-egg odour.
• The sensors for air flow (Audi parts that keep an eye on the amount of blended into the fuel injection system) need to be replaced.
• The spark plug wires on the Audi are no longer functioning correctly and need to be replaced. Generally when the check engine light comes on for this reason, the Audi will also experience a loss in power.

There is one trick to determining quickly whether the problem is something minor or major, even without a code reader. While not always the case, the majority of the time minor problems, like a loose gas cap, are indicated by a steady light, while major ones, like a damaged catalytic converter, are indicated with a flashing light. Always use a code reader to confirm this, however.

Don’t Ignore it

Never ignore a check engine light. If it’s on, there’s a good chance the Audi is consuming too much fuel, is releasing excess pollutants into the air, and is at risk for breaking down. There may be occasions when the light comes on and nothing is wrong with any Audi parts, such as when there are changes in humidity. However, if this is the case the light will go off after a short period of time and will not come back on.

When the check engine light comes on in your Audi, don’t ignore it. It’s trying to tell you something is wrong, and understanding what that problem is will help you make any necessary repairs or replacements quickly so you can get the car back on the road safely.