The check engine light indicates that something in the engine is not working properly. The engine light might indicate both a minor problem and a significant problem with your engine. You should pay attention to the problem in both circumstances and have it fixed as soon as possible.
You can easily figure out what’s causing these problems by using an OBD scanner. Here’s a review of the best OBD scanners.
In this article, we will consider what’s causing the flashing and shaking, as well as the options you have to fix the issues.
What Does the Check Engine Light Indicate?
A check engine light, service engine light, and malfunction indicator bulb are all part of your vehicle’s onboard diagnostics system. The electronic control module (ECM), which is part of your car’s computer, is in charge of the whole thing.
Almost every electronic or electrical system in your vehicle today has its electronic control module. It also looks at how the many actuators and sensors send out-of-range operational details, like idle motor speed, fuel injectors, fuel pump, oxygen detector, and solenoid EGR, amongst others.
What Causes the Check Engine Light to Come On and the Vehicle to Shake?
Blocked fuel filter
Engine misfire is a common cause of car issues, particularly when the accelerator is pressed. A lack of sufficient fuel pressure in the cylinder is frequently the cause of this. A clogged gasoline filter that hasn’t been replaced on time might sometimes result in a lack of fuel. It will misfire because it doesn’t get the right amount of fuel from the injector. This is because the air-to-fuel ratio is off.
Fuel filters are a replaceable component that should be replaced every 30,000 miles or two years on diesel vehicles and every 50,000 miles or four years on gasoline vehicles.
If the fuel in the tank is polluted with dirt or water, the fuel filter may become clogged or unable to filter correctly.
The ECU will generally detect a problem with gasoline pressure caused by a bad fuel filter and the check engine light will illuminate. To avoid damage, the engine may potentially enter “limp home mode.”
Faulty fuel injector
Another typical engine issue that might result in engine shaking and a check engine light is faulty fuel injectors.
Modern engines use a process called direct injection to get the fuel into the engine cylinders. The fuel injectors are regulated by the ECU and supply a very exact amount of fuel.
To achieve the most effective combustion, the spray pattern of the fuel is also critical. A fuel injector can fail in a variety of ways, the most common of which are blockage or leakage.
The tip or nozzle of a fuel injector might get partially blocked if it becomes filthy. Because of the heat generated by the engine, the injectors can remain hot for a long period after you turn it off.
Any remaining fuel in the injector evaporates, leaving hard hydrocarbon deposits at the injector tip. Over time, these deposits might accumulate and cause the injector to get clogged.
The breakdown of the O-ring where the injector contacts the fuel rail is also a typical cause of leaky injectors. The heat of the engine can cause these rubber O-rings to harden and become brittle. They lose their ability to seal correctly when they harden, allowing gasoline to leak out, resulting in a drop in fuel pressure and injector failure.
Faulty ignition coil
Engine misfires and trembling are frequently caused by faulty ignition coils or coil packs. Ignition coils are small transformers that give the spark plug a high-voltage charge. Misfires, a rough idle, a loss of power, poor fuel economy, and a difficult-to-start engine are all symptoms of a faulty ignition coil.
If you try to start or run an engine with bad ignition coils, it will sputter, hesitate, misfire, and possibly stall. The engine will struggle to function properly, and you will almost surely receive a check engine light and engine trouble codes if you have a defective ignition coil that makes no noise or appears to be destroyed.
If there is a broken ignition coil, a diagnostic test (using an OBD scanner) should disclose error codes P0351 to P0358.
Sensor issues in the engine
Sensors are necessary for all modern engines to function. Sensors track the amount of air in the engine, the temperature, the fuel pressure, the air pressure, the engine timing, the engine oil pressure, and the composition of the exhaust gas.
A bad engine sensor can make your car shake, lose power, get poor gas mileage, and stop working, among other things.
Wrapping Up: How Can You Solve These Issues?
Taking the automobile to a local dealership or a repair center that specializes in a certain model of car is the best option for “car shaking and engine light on.”
You can also take your car to a repair shop that is not affiliated with a particular brand (i.e., an independent car repair center). In most cases, these repairers operate on all makes and models of vehicles. In addition, they are less expensive than local car dealerships.
Finally, if you know how to interpret the code form using an OBD-II scanner and can make the repair correctly, you can do it yourself. These devices are sold on different websites.
