Your car’s dashboard has a wide range of indicator lights to keep you up with the car’s performance and status.
One of these lights simply writes “Service Engine Soon” in yellow or red. So what is this light and what are the reasons behind it?
Well, it can mean a wide range of aspects, ranging from simple routine check reminders to more serious issues, and in today’s article, I’ll show you everything you need to know about them.
Difference Between Check Engine and Service Engine Soon Light
There’s a common mixup between “check engine” lights and “service engine soon” lights. Ideally, a check engine light indicates that something is wrong with the car, which can be attributed to a lot of factors.
In some cases, the “check engine” light will start flashing to warn you of more serious issues that need turning the vehicle off and calling a repair shop immediately. This includes various issues like vacuum leaks, loose gas caps, and catalytic converter damage.
Reasons Behind Service Engine Soon Light Coming On
Now that you know more about the “service engine soon” light, you might be wondering about the reasons why it’s lighting up.
In this section, I’ll walk you through some of the common factors that might trigger that dashboard light.
1. Scheduled Service Overdue
Unlike the check engine light, the “service engine soon light” doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a problem.
Instead, it can simply mean that your car is set for a scheduled maintenance/service that is a few days or miles overdue.
Keep in mind that this light is set to be triggered at certain times by the car’s manufacturers. In other words, if you’ve already serviced your car recently and found the light coming on, it could be that the mechanic forgot to reset the light’s schedule.
In both cases, a quick visit to your service center should get the job done and fix the issue.
2. Low Fluid Levels
Another reason why this light might come on is why one or more of the vehicle’s fluid or oil levels are going critically low.
In that case, you’ll need to check the levels of the car’s fluids and make sure that they’re within adequate levels. Simply top up the fluid levels or change it completely if necessary and the light might go away.
3. Dirty Air Filters
The air filter is responsible for filtering out dirt, dust, and other debris from the air that enters your car’s engine.
If the air filter becomes dirty, it can restrict airflow to the engine, which can cause the engine to run lean, meaning that the level of fuel to air is extremely low.
This affects care performance and leads to serious issues if not addressed, such as misfires and engine damage.
4. Malfunctioning Oxygen Sensor
Similar to the previous point, the oxygen sensor is responsible for adjusting the level of oxygen that goes into the combustion process.
Any malfunction in this process can affect the performance of the engine and fuel economy, which may trigger the “service engine soon light”.
5. Fuel-Related Issues
Low fuel on its own would rarely trigger the “service engine soon” light. However, if it’s combined with a faulty fuel pump, it’s an indication that some routine engine maintenance is due.
6. Contaminated Fuel
Contaminated and low-quality gas will often trigger your check engine light. However, in some cases, it can cause the service engine soon indicator to light up as well.
For instance, if your vehicle is designed to run on grade 90+ gas and you use a lower grade, the engine will not run properly, which causes the light to come on.
To fix this problem, you’ll need to drain your gas tank completely and replace it with the proper type of fuel. The light should turn off on its own after driving the car for a few miles.
Final Words
This marks the end of today’s guide about the “service engine soon” light. As you can see, it’s usually associated with scheduled maintenance and simple repairs.
In other words, service engine soon is rarely an imminent issue, although it’s usually best to address it as quickly as possible, as it may develop into a serious and costly problem.
