5 Dangers of Ignoring Toyota Service Engine Soon Light

Of late, Toyota’s are coming equipped with many advanced features that make it easy for drivers to ascertain whether there is anything wrong with their Toyota before the problem aggravates further. The service engine soon light or the check engine light as it is popularly called is one such feature in your vehicle.

At times, it is seen that some drivers have this habit of ignoring their service engine soon light which can be catastrophic for their Toyota. Here in this article, we will discuss the 5 dangers involved in ignoring the service engine soon light.

Engine Issues & Cost Escalation

The service engine soon light is a warning light located on the dashboard of your Toyota and illuminates whenever there is something wrong with the functioning of the engine or any of the components related to the engine of your high-end car.

Most of the time when the service engine light is triggered in your car, you might get to experience engine misfire or overheating that are the root cause behind the flashing of the warning light. These issues have the potential to completely damage your engine if they are left unaddressed for a long time.

Now, when you are ignoring your service engine light, you are only pushing your Toyota to a greater disaster in waiting as it might require an engine rebuild if it fails completely & you will end up with hefty repair bills in your hand leaving you in a financially vulnerable position.

Degraded Fuel Economy

The miles per gallon can speak a lot about the internal dynamics of your Toyota and it is important to keep a tab on the fuel mileage of the vehicle. Most of the time it is seen that a delay in initiating action to tackle the service engine soon light can take a toll on the fuel economy of your Toyota.

The reduction in the fuel mileage in your Toyota is caused by underlying issues in your car that inhibit the engine from functioning efficiently. The majority of times oxygen sensor failure is found to be the leading cause behind the illumination of the service engine soon light & the resultant fall in the fuel mileage of your Toyota.

The delivery of fuel to the engine of your Toyota is a very complex process and involves a lot of parts and if any of these parts malfunction then it can cause the service engine soon light to flash. For example, if the fuel injectors of your Toyota get clogged up over the years due to accumulation of dirt & debris then it can obstruct the flow of fuel to the engine.

This is when you get to see the illumination of the service engine soon light and also the consequent drop in the fuel economy of your high-end car.

Malfunctioning Emission Control System

The illumination of the service engine light in your Toyota can also signal towards failure of the emission control system equipment which can put you in a lot of trouble. There are a host of components under the hood of your car like the catalytic converter, EGR valve, and oxygen sensors that play a crucial role in controlling the emissions from your car.

If any of these systems fail to carry out their functions smoothly then it is going to trigger the warning light. Moreover, when you are delaying taking remedial action then it is going to compound your problems further in the form of increased emissions which causes additional damage to the environment & your Toyota might even flunk the emissions tests.

Resale Value Goes Down

Now, after driving your Toyota for a couple of years, you would like to sell it and buy yourself a brand-new car. Here a lot depends on the resale value of your old Toyota as the money gained from making this sale is going to be invested in buying a new vehicle.

However, most of the time Toyota owners are shocked to get a quote far below what they had expected for their car and the major reason for this quandary is neglect on their part to address problems like the service engine soon light in their cars.

Safety Gets Compromised

At times, the service engine soon light in Toyota might get illuminated due to issues with the functioning of the safety features in your vehicle. Problems with the ABS system can also lead to the flashing of the engine warning light and that is why addressing it immediately must be your top priority.

Continuing to drive your Toyota with failing safety features is a bad idea and might prove fatal in case of a collision.

Finally

The above-discussed factors are some of the dangers involved in driving your Toyota continuously without addressing the service engine soon light illumination on the dashboard. Get in touch with a certified mechanic who can help address the problems in your Toyota.