Is It Safe To Drive Your Volvo S60 With Check Engine Light On? From Certified Mechanics in Cary

Among the various luxury sedans that you get to see on the road, there are few that inspire awe and envy like none other. One such highly popular high-end sedan is the Volvo S60 which is known for its top performance and advanced features.

The popularity of the Volvo S60 can be gauged from the number of these cars that one gets to see on the road of Cary. The Volvo S60 is giving tough competition to its counterparts like Audi, Mercedes Benz and BMW. However, owning a luxury sedan also comes with its own set of challenges.

These cars are known for their hectic maintenance schedule and if you are failing to keep up with the manufacturer have recommended service intervals, then issues are sure to crop up with your Volvo S60. As your car is equipped with advanced systems whenever any problems occur the check engine light is going to illuminate on the dashboard.

The illumination of the check engine light on the dashboard puts many drivers in quandary. There are varied opinions regarding whether you should continue driving your car or not when you see the warning light flashing. Here in this article, we will discuss the factors that lead to the illumination of the check engine light.

Malfunctioning Oxygen Sensor

There are many sensors in your car that are responsible for keeping a tab on the functioning of vital parts of your car. One such sensor is the oxygen sensor which is responsible for monitoring the amount of unburnt oxygen present in the exhaust system of your vehicle.

The data collected by the oxygen sensor is sent to the onboard computer which uses it to regulate the mixture of air and fuel entering the cylinders. Now, if there is a problem with the O2 sensor of your car, then the check engine light is going to illuminate on the dashboard.

Now, you can drive your car with the check engine light illuminating in this case, however, your fuel economy is going to reduce drastically. Moreover, driving continuously without addressing the oxygen sensor failure will only lead to further damage to your car.

Bad Catalytic Converter

The catalytic converter in your vehicle is an important part of the exhaust system that is responsible for converting the carbon monoxide generated during the combustion process into carbon dioxide which is less harmful. The failure of the catalytic converter can lead to your high-end car failing the emissions test.

The check engine light is going to illuminate on the dashboard whenever the catalytic converter goes bad. Now, if you are regularly following the maintenance schedule of your car, then you can prevent the failure of the catalytic converter to a large extent.

Most of the time the catalytic converter gets clogged due to continuous usage and the only way to prevent it is through regular inspection and cleaning.

Issues with Spark Plug/Ignition Coil

The whole starting mechanism in your car is quite complex and involves various parts. The ignition coil in your car generates the electricity needed by the spark plugs to ignite the air and fuel mixture of your car. The number of coils depends on the cylinder configuration of the engine of your car.

Most of the time the check engine light is triggered due to a malfunctioning coils in your car. In addition to this, malfunctioning spark plugs can also lead to the flashing of the warning light on the dashboard of your vehicle. You must take your Volvo S60 to a certified repair shop where a qualified mechanic will use a scanner to read the error codes.

MAF Failure

The mass airflow sensor (MAF) is one of the most important sensors in your high-end car. The MAF sensor is responsible for keeping a tab on the amount of air entering the engine of your car. Moreover, it is a part of the engine management system of your vehicle.

Whenever the MAF sensor fails, you will get to experience rough engine idling and a sudden change in the position of the throttle pedal of your car. This is when the check engine light illuminates on the dashboard.

Finally

The above-discussed factors are some of the leading causes behind the illumination of the check engine light on the dashboard of your Volvo S60. Most of the time drivers choose to ignore the warning light, however, if you see the light illuminating, then take our Volvo S60 to a trusted repair shop to diagnose and fix the issues.