Did you just notice a yellow, orange, or amber engine icon with the words ‘CHECK’ underneath, on your dashboard? We call it the check engine light, and it indicates something is wrong with the engine. The issue could be minor or major, depending on what’s amiss with the powerplant.

In most cases, you’d end up at an auto workshop to have the issues fixed. However, it would help to know the reasons why the check engine light illuminates. Today, we will explain what this light means, the common reasons why it turns on, and the ways to turn it off.

The check engine light appears on the dashboard with an engine marked usually with the words ‘CHECK’ beneath it. The light's color may vary according to the manufacturer but the common ones are yellow, orange, and amber.

Being a crucial part of the vehicle’s on-board diagnosis system, the light pops up when it detects a problem with the powertrain, i.e. engine, transmission, and other related components. The issue in the powertrain could increase tailpipe emissions and illuminate the light.

However, telling what might be triggering the light is tricky without performing the diagnostic. As the modern architect of vehicles becomes complex and interrelated, a problem with another subsystem, such as the brake system, could also cause trouble with the powertrain. Visiting a mechanic can be helpful to identify the issue.

Although the check engine light may appear for several reasons, some common ones are:

1. Loose Fuel Cap

A loose fuel cap is the most common reason why the check engine light illuminates. The fuel cap is a significant part of the fuel delivery system; it prevents the gasoline fumes from leaving the tank. Furthermore, it keeps the entire fuel system under appropriate pressure.

Next time your check engine light emerges, check the fuel cap first before diagnosing for other issues. The cap could be loose or need replacement due to not having a tight grip.

2. Faulty Oxygen Sensor

Another cause of the check engine light could be oxygen sensor failure. The sensor has the task of measuring the amount of unburned oxygen in the exhaust system. When the oxygen sensor goes faulty, it reports an incorrect amount, and the engine burns more fuel than needed.

Moreover, a bad oxygen sensor may lead to fewer miles per gallon of fuel, as the vehicle loses its fuel economy. It may also be detrimental to the catalytic converter and spark plugs.

3. Bad Catalytic Converter

The catalytic converter may go faulty due to lack of maintenance and thus may trigger the check engine warning. A bad catalytic converter means your vehicle no longer cares for environmental friendliness because it is unable to convert dangerous carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide properly.

Furthermore, with a faulty catalytic converter, your car will function at a high temperature and deliver reduced fuel economy and performance. Without a suitably working catalytic converter, your vehicle will also not pass the emissions readiness test.

4. Faulty Spark Plugs and Wires

Another reason for the check engine light might be bad spark plugs and plug wires. Responsible for lighting up the fuel and air mixture in the combustion chamber, spark plugs are a crucial component of your vehicle. Likewise, the plug wires transfer the spark to the plugs from the ignition coil.

Overall, the effects of faulty spark plugs and wires are visible in terms of engine misfiring and subdued fuel efficiency and performance. Moreover, bad spark plugs and wires can damage ignition coils and oxygen sensors and clog the catalytic converter.

5. Transmission Issues

A vehicle’s transmission system is responsible to manipulate the engine's power and transfer it to the drive wheels. Highly interrelated, the engine and transmission systems work closely together, and an issue with one can cause havoc in another.

A problem with the transmission system can raise the tailpipe emissions and trigger the check engine light. Therefore, have the car checked for transmission issues immediately to avoid damage to your engine or other components.

6. Mass Air Flow Sensor Failure

If you’ve analyzed all the above issues and the check engine light remains, it could be due to the Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor failure. The sensor is responsible to measure the air entering the engine and calculate the fuel it requires to function efficiently.

A faulty MAS sensor can harm your spark plugs, catalytic converter, and oxygen sensor. Moreover, a failed sensor can ultimately lead to a fall in performance and fuel economy. Therefore, have the sensor replaced right away if you detect this problem.

Now that we know the possible reasons for check engine light, the next logical question is - is it safe to drive with the warning active. As soon as the light illuminates, pay close attention to notice anything unusual with your vehicle. Your car must not chug and lose power or generate strange sounds.

If you don’t notice any such events, you can continue to drive your vehicle to a safe location. However, maintain a slow speed and avoid shifting gears too quickly. As soon as you’re at a workshop, have the vehicle examined straightaway to get rid of the warning light.

Final Words

Among many indicators and warning signs on the dashboard, check engine light educates about a possible problem with the engine. It is hard to tell a specific reason that causes it, so you may need to visit a mechanic to diagnose the issue. However, some common reasons for the check engine light include MAS sensor failure, faulty oxygen sensor & spark plugs, and transmission issues. Once you see this light, drive to a car workshop and ask the mechanic to inspect and diagnose the real problem.

Unseen hazards are inevitable in both the business world as well as your personal life. An effective way to tackle these challenges when they arrive is to set security measures in advance. You might wear a seatbelt to avoid an unforeseen accident, but in the business world, risks work more complicatedly.

Collateral Protection Insurance (CPI) is a similar cushion against the potential risk available on vehicle loans to customers. By having a CPI agreement in place, lenders feel more prepared to face the unseen threat. Today, we will tell you what is CPI, how it works, and when it’s used the most.

CPI begins with the lender placing coverage on the customer's vehicle. Upon taking a vehicle loan, the agreement requires the borrower to avail of damage insurance to maintain the loan collateral. However, not all loan borrowers comply with this demand – some do not purchase the insurance policy, and many just let the insurance coverage pass.

A recent study shows that 1 in 8 drivers in the U.S. remain unsecured and certain states witness uninsured motorists as high as 29%. It means the prospect of car damage poses an ever-existing risk to the lenders. It is where a program like CPI comes into play, offering lenders a way to mitigate the unseen risk.

CPI is quite similar to other types of insurance agreements. The CPI subscribers pay whenever damage occurs to the vehicle. However, there also exist many differences between CPI and other insurance contracts.

CPI program objectives may issue the CPI contract on your behalf if you fail to meet the requirement to avail one on your own. In this case, you may not be underwritten separately; instead, the provider issues a certificate of coverage.

As the status of underlying insurance determines the CPI placement, it can cause accidental lender-placed insurance. To avoid this, CPI needs extensive monitoring, service, and management. The way lender saves time and money directly correlates to the CPI provider’s capacity to accurately and swiftly determine and tackle a lapse in coverage.

The collection and maintenance of the customer’s private insurance data are also necessary. It ensures that the CPI placements are accurate. Furthermore, when the customer purchases the required insurance, it helps in disbursing correct refunds. It shows the importance of the CPI provider by the lender. An optimal CPI supplier would offer efficient and easy ways to update their insurance to the customers on behalf of the lender.

Now that we know the background of CPI, let’s look at what the contract includes. CPI agreement generally covers the physical damage to the vehicle, but it may also comprise protection against medical expenses and liabilities.

Physical protection under CPI includes comprehensive and collision coverage:

1. Comprehensive Coverage: Protects against weather and animal damage, vandalism, and theft.

2. Collision Coverage: Offers cushion against harm caused to the vehicle by a fixed or striking object, such as a car, wall, rail, or a building.

Lenders use CPI to mitigate the risk resulting from vehicle financing. Lenders can self-insure the unsecured damaged vehicles once they repossess them. Similarly, some of them use a portfolio protection program to hedge themselves against the risk, which regulators also encourage.

These portfolio protection programs include agreements such as blanket policy and CPI, which most lenders use.

Premiums on CPI can vary from provider to provider. However, CPI is more expensive than standard car insurance issued by regular companies. CPI, which is part of the lease agreement, requires you to retroactively pay the premium for the days your vehicle went without insurance coverage.

For instance, you loaned out a car on 1st January and had to get vehicle insurance on the same day. However, you went without adequate coverage for the whole of January. The lender would have an enforceable right to charge CPI premium for January and any succeeding month until you purchase car insurance.

Sometimes, lenders and insurance companies make a mistake. They charge you for a CPI while you had an active insurance policy required by the vehicle loan. In this case, you’re eligible for a refund on the CPI premium paid.

However, to receive the refund, you must have valid evidence in the form of a declaration page or insurance card. Next, you need to contact your lender and prove them the insurance to receive the backdated refund. You should consider seeking legal advice if your lender fails to offer a refund even after providing valid evidence.

In both personal and business life, you have to face unseen risks. Hence, take precautions beforehand to avoid heavy damage from these hazards. Collateral Protection Insurance is one of such measures taken by vehicle lenders to steer clear of loss resulting from the loan. It’s an excellent option for lease-here-pay-here dealers to tackle borrowers who don’t purchase standard car insurance required by the financing. However, if CPI providers or lenders charge you a premium while you had standard insurance in place, you’re eligible for a refund after showing a piece of valid evidence.

Sources consulted:

https://www.thebalance.com/what-is-collateral-protection-insurance-5184440

https://www.thezebra.com/auto-insurance/insurance-guide/collateral-protection/

https://www.statenational.com/what-is-collateral-protection-insurance/

Brakes is the most crucial safety feature in your vehicle, and like any other component, it wears out with time. As the brakes consist of several parts interlinked, they become noisy when they go wrong. That’s the reason why you hear that squeaking noise. Most brake noises are normal and do not indicate a danger. However, they’re an indication that the brake’s components are weakening and need attention. To understand brake squeaks, today we’ll discuss the common reasons why the brakes can be noisy and the possible solutions.

Brakes produce a squeak, squeal, or screech when the vibrating brake pads make a sound in a particular frequency. 

Often, a temperature change can cause the brakes to squeal. When the temperature drops, it can make the brake pads and rotors, two parts that touch when you push the brake, produce screeching noise. Moisture is another cause.

In areas such as Columbus, Ohio, where summers are hot and humid, and winters are freezing and windy, moisture can form on the pads and rotors due to rain, ice, and snow. However, once you drive around a bit and the components heat up, the noise would stop.

Similarly, a layer of light rust overnight on the rotor can leave you with those unpleasant sounds, as well. This rust results from an accumulation of condensation on the metal rotors.

Brake pads, when worn out, produce loud noises to indicate they need a replacement. Some pads feature a wear indicator that gives out a loud noise to show that the friction material has worn out and needs changing. The friction material on the brake pads directly determines your vehicles’ braking power. Therefore, you must have them replaced at the earliest.

When choosing the friction material, be aware of the properties of different composite materials. If you hate braking sounds, avoid composite materials such as semi-metallic and low metallic. Instead, look for non-asbestos organic or ceramic pads; they are quieter and offer excellent stopping power.

3. Missing Hardware

Your brakes may not have specific hardware, causing them to squeak. Sometimes clips, springs, loose fasteners, or shims can go astray or miss your brakes. It can cause the pads to leave their place and drag on the rotors, wearing out more quickly due to overheating and vibration.

Like any other mechanical component, brakes can show problems due to rash use. It includes heavy use of brakes, where constant pressure on the brake pedal can cause overheating issues. Therefore, avoid taking routes that require aggressive brake usages, such as a jammed-traffic or sloping area.

Moreover, carelessly pressing the brake pedal can lead to this problem. Slamming the brakes aggressively for frequent stopping can make them squeak even when they’re in fine condition. Go gentle with the brake pedal and avoid strong braking to steer clear of premature wear.

Now that you’re familiar with the causes of brake squeaking, your next question would be “how to fix brake squeaks.” Nobody wants to go through the loud and unpleasant sound every time he or she hits the brake pedal. It’s better to resolve the issue at the earliest.

This solution is most applicable for new brakes. If you’ve just installed the new brakes and begin to hear squeals every time you brake, greasing the contact points may solve the problem.

To begin with, put on disposable gloves for your safety, and remove the brake pads from the calipers. Next, apply the grease to contact points such as the backside of the pads and notches on the caliper carrier. However, ensure that the friction material and rotor surface remain free of grease.

You don’t want to leave any part dangling loosely and cause squealing noises. To cater for this, you must replace any hardware missing from your brakes. Inspect the brake to see if any spring or clip is missing and replace it.

Another effective way to combat brake squeaking is to install a set of shims. When fixed on the backside of the pads, they can help reduce the noise. Shims cover the empty spaces where the pad could move and have a layer of rubber to absorb vibration and subdue the noise.

Worn-out brake pads and rotors can cause squealing sounds. Therefore, replacing them before they wear out is an excellent solution to get rid of the noise. The brake pads should have at least 3/8" of frictional material left to avoid metal-on-metal connection when you hit the pedal. Additionally, your rotors' surface must not have any grooves or a noticeable outer lip. If your pads and rotors fall short of any of these requirements, it’s time for a replacement.

Most vehicles are quiet and squeak-free in regular operation. But do you own a car that’s always noisy, no matter what solution you apply? That’s because you own a high-performance vehicle featuring a high-duty braking system.

Such braking systems contain pads and rotors that can be very noisy due to the stopping power they offer. Expect a more horrible experience when you’ve parked the vehicle for a few days and the braking system has grown cold. Nonetheless, these braking systems tend to be more durable and offer more outstanding performance than the regular ones.

Like any other component in your vehicle, brakes need maintenance. When you press down the brake pedal, Squeaking or screeching sounds indicate that they need your attention. These unpleasant noises result mainly from worn-out pads and rotors, rust and moisture, missing parts in your brake system, and some other reasons. A few ways to fix the squeaking noise include replacing the pads and rotors, installing the missing pieces, and greasing the contact points.

WE AT EXPRESS AUTO SALES III ARE COMMITTED TO BEING A LEADER IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 IN OUR COMMUNITY. OUR MISION IS TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE QUALITY VEHICLES AND SERVICE WITH A FOCUS ON THE SAFETY OF OUR CUSTOMERS, SUPPLIERS AND EMPLOYEES DURING THESE TIMES. WE WILL CONTINUALLY MONITOR AND ADAPT OUR OPERATIONS AS  

GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS AND DIRECTIVES ARE SET AND IMPLEMENTED TO MEET THE NEEDS AND WELL BEING OF OUR CUSTOMERS, BUSINESS AND THE PUBLIC. 

Yes, we are! Our hours of operation have been modified to assure we maintain the safest environment possible. We special hours for Seniors on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for 10am to 11am we be reserved for any customer over 60 years of age. Any person wishing to purchase a vehicle must call first 614.237.3325 press 1 and schedule an appointment to view inventory at the lot.

We encourage all customers to pay online https://www.mycarpay.com or call the payment center 614.237.3325 press 2 all payments made online or by phone we have waived transaction and late fees for the next 2 payments starting 3/25/20 and ending on 4/31/20. If you’re having trouble meeting your obligations due to recent loss of income because of the COVID-19 pandemic call us immediately at 614-237-3325 press 2 to speak with our payment department, maintaining communication is critical.

Yes, just call to set up an appointment. Repairs may take longer than usual due to Covid causing a lack in availability of parts.